Mechanical characterization of polyurethane PU multiwalled carbon nanotubes MWCNTs nano composites using nano indentation techniques

Abstract

Static and dynamic mechanical characterization of MWCNTs reinforced Polyurethane composites has been performed by using Nano-indentation techniques. A load of 500µN has been applied during static characterization and properties like elastic modulus, hardness and fracture resistance have been evaluated. A significant improvement has been observed in static mechanical properties under the influence of varying composition of MWCNTs. Dynamic mechanical analysis has been performed for evaluating visco-elastic properties of composite material by varying the frequency of load in the range of 15-250Hz. A significant improvement of 80% in the storage modulus of composite material has been observed with a minor composition of MWCNTs (3wt %). Finite Element Analysis studies reveal that von Mises stresses have been reduced with the reinforcement of MWCNTs into crit ically stressed area. newline