Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposites: Potential Complications From the Mullins Effect

Published

September 20, 2006

Author(s)

Christopher C. White, Donald L. Hunston

Abstract

Quantification of mechanical properties, such as non-linear viscoelastic behavior, for filled elastomers (model nanocomposites) is complicated by the presence of the Mullins effect. This paper examines the potential complications due to the Mullins effect on measuring the mechanical behavior of five model nanocomposite materials. Taken together, these materials encompass the range of chemistries and formulations found in currently available commercial sealants. The Mullins effect was observed for all five materials and was observed in both tensile and compressive experiments. The effect could be removed by preloading the sample to a higher strain than that used in subsequent tests. If a previously tested sample was allowed to rest (remain unloaded) for a sufficiently long period of time, however, the Mullins effect was partially recovered; that is, the modulus measured during the first mechanical loading following the rest period was greater than that obtained on subsequent loadings.

Conference Dates

September 1, 2006

Conference Title

ACS Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Preprints

Pub Type

Conferences

Citation

White, C. and Hunston, D. (2006), Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposites: Potential Complications From the Mullins Effect, ACS Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Preprints (Accessed March 23, 2025)