ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MONTMORILLONITE CLAY/POLYESTER NANOCOMPOSITE

Abstract

The dielectric and mechanical properties of montmorillonite clay/polyester nanocomposite at various filler loadings were investigated. Five different samples of the nanocomposite were produced using melt interclation method while varying the percentage composition of montmorillonite clay from 5wt% to 25wt%. The tensile, compressive, and flexural strengths and impact energy on five replicate specimens for each test were analysed. Also the capacitance and dielectric strength of the samples were evaluated. Results obtained showed that whereas a drastic decrease in the impact energy of >100% was observed, the maximum tensile strength and Young’s modulus values of 50.27MPa and 8.76GPa respectively were obtained at 10% filler loading. Also the flexural and compressive strengths increased by 48% and 100% at 15wt% and 20wt% filler loading respectively. There was also an increase in capacitance (32%) and dielectric strength (>100%) of the samples with each filler addition up to 25% with 3 times increase in hardness at 25wt% as well.