Effect of aluminosilicate nanoclay on polyester composites' static and dynamic mechanical properties

Abstract In this research, the effect of the addition of aluminosilicate (bentonite) nanoclay powder on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical behavior of polyester composites was investigated. Nanoclay laminates were fabricated in four different combinations, and the effect of nanofiller addition on the mechanical behaviors has been tested under ASTM Standards. The nanoclay and polyester resin were mixed using the ultrasonication process. Due to the enhanced interface between nanoclay and polyester, the flexural, tensile, and impact characteristics of laminates were boosted by clay addition. The loss modulus, storage modulus, and tan δ of the specimen were studied as a function of temperature and frequency of oscillation using a dynamic mechanical analyzer, and it was discovered that the addition of 5 wt% bentonite clay provided better strength and had the highest storage modulus than the other laminates. A morphology analysis was done on the fractured specimens through the scanning electron microscopy.