Nanoparticle type effects on heat generation during the plastic deformation of polyethylene nanocomposites

The correlation between nanoparticle type and internal heat generation during the plastic deformation of polyethylene nanocomposites is investigated. The effects of three different types of nanoparticle (carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon black (CB) and inorganic nanoclay) were evaluated using infrared thermography, simultaneously with tensile tests. The results showed a significant influence of nanoparticle type, content, dispersion and interaction on the temperature increase measured at different strain rates. The addition of all the nanoparticles increased the rate of heat generation, which resulted in thermal softening in the strain hardening region, and reduced the tensile strength. At low volume fractions, CNT nanofiller resulted in higher temperatures than seen with CB. The addition of nanoclay resulted in only a small temperature increase, and straining was companied by the formation of microcracks.