EVALUATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYPROPYLENE/CALCIUM CARBONATE NANOCOMPOSITE AT VARIOUS CREEP CONDITIONS

The mechanical properties of Polypropylene and Polypropylene/Calcium Carbonate nanocomposites were evaluated. Data on the influence of Calcium Carbonate on the tensile strength, young’s modulus, elongation and creep modulus
were obtained for the nanocomposite by conducting a tensile test for the coated and uncoated samples and creep test for the coated samples at different Calcium Carbonate loadings by varying the stresses and temperatures. It was found that the resistance to creep was high for the nanocomposite as compared to the neat Polypropylene. The Young’s modulus of the nanocomposite showed some improvements with the incorporation of the Calcium Carbonate nano-filler while the tensile strength deteriorated. The Creep modulus decreases with increase in
temperature and time. Above all, the Polypropylene and Polypropylene/Calcium Carbonate creep responses showed a non-linear response for the properties evaluated revealing viscoelasticity of the polymer matrix materials.

BY MGBEMENA, CHINEDUM OGONNA, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ENGINEERING (M.ENG) DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA.