Experimental and theoretical correlation of reinforcement trends in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/single‐walled carbon nanotubes hybrid composites

The reinforcement tendency of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/single‐walled carbon nanotubes hybrid composites is investigated using universal tensile testing machine. SWCNT are exfoliated in the ABS matrix at all concentrations, however, selective localization of SWCNT occurred in the SAN phase rather than the PB phase of ABS. Although, glass transition temperature of ABS remained intact by the incorporation of SWCNTs, but mechanical properties are enhanced significantly. The increase in tensile strength and Young's modulus of ABS/SWCNT hybrid composites is up to 48% and 103%, respectively, at considerable loss of strain at break inferring the restriction in the movement of the ABS chains by anchoring them in the vicinity of SWCNT. Modified rule of mixture (MRoM) model is employed to predict the rate of increase in the Young's modulus (dY/dV_f) of ABS/SWCNT hybrid composites. The predicted trends are correlated well with the experimental values of dY/dV_f in the lower volume fraction of SWCNT in ABS demonstrating the effective load transfer from the polymer matrix to the nanotubes. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E902–E908, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers