Nanoindentation characterization of polymer nanocomposites for elastic and viscoelastic properties: Experimental and mathematical approach

Abstract

Abstract This work aims to determine the elastic and viscoelastic properties of microwave processed nanocomposites. Three different power rating has been used in microwave processing of polymer nanocomposite, i.e., 180\xa0W, 360\xa0W, and 540\xa0W. Nanomechanical elastic properties of nanocomposites have been determined using the conventional nanoindentation method. Viscoelastic properties of nanocomposites have been determined by observing the increase in depth at maximum load (10 mN) during a small holding period (2\xa0s). Polypropylene nanocomposites (PNT), high-density polyethylene nanocomposites (HNT), and low-density polyethylene nanocomposites (LNT) have shown an increase in modulus, hardness, and viscosity term with an increase in microwave power. The plasticity index has been obtained using the area under the loading and unloading curves. HNT and PNT samples have shown a plasticity index of 0.71\xa0±\xa00.02 and 0.62\xa0±\xa00.05, respectively. However, LNT samples have shown the same plasticity index 0.61 at all three-power ratings.