Mechanical Properties and Morphology of Plasticized Poly(vinyl chloride) Nanocomposites Filled with Nanosilica
The mechanical properties (tensile properties, tear strength) and morphology of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) nanocomposites filled with varied loadings of nanosilica (nano-SiO2) (3-9 phr) were investigated. It is found that the addition of nano-SiO2 into the plasticized PVC by melt mixing process results in the increase in the Young’s modulus and tear strength, but the decrease in the tensile strength and elongation at break in a dose dependent manner. The SEM micrographs show ductile fractured surfaces for the neat plasticzed PVC and for the nanocomposites with low nano-SiO2 loadings (3 and 5 phr). As the nano-SiO2 loadings are 7 and 9 phr, SEM images illustrate smoother surfaces, caused by the reduction in the flexibility of the plasticized PVC nanocomposites.