Effects of pseudoinclusions containing intercalated Mt platelets on the tensile modulus and strength of Mt/polymer nanocomposites

Abstract Since most montmorillonite (Mt)/polymer nanocomposites (MPNs) do not show complete exfoliation of Mt platelets in the polymer matrix, pseudoinclusions that include stacks of multiple intercalated platelets must be considered. This work studies the influences of the volume fraction, number ( N ) and thickness ( t ) of the intercalated Mt platelets as well as the distance between the platelets ( s ) on the aspect ratio, volume fraction and Young's modulus of the pseudoinclusions. Furthermore, the properties of pseudoinclusions are taken into account when applying known models for the mechanical properties of nanocomposites in order to examine their role in determining the tensile modulus and strength of MPNs. A large number of platelets decrease the aspect ratio and Young's modulus of the pseudoinclusions, as well as their predicted tensile strength, but the N value has the opposite effect on predictions of the tensile modulus. Also, the s and t parameters affect the tensile modulus and strength of MPNs differently.