Experimental study of the compression behavior of Graphene Oxide and Nano-clay reinforced polycarbonate nanocomposites at low strain rates

In this study, the effects of Cloisite 20A modified nanoclay and graphene oxide on the compression behavior of polycarbonate nanocomposite were examined by experiment. Samples were prepared based on injection and the masterbatch method was used for a better dispersion of nano particles in the matrix phase. The masterbatch of nanoclay was prepared through the direct method using an extruder, and the masterbatch of graphene oxide was prepared using the solvent method. The clay reinforced nanocomposite were prepared for three weight percentages of 0.5%, 1%, 3%, and samples of graphene oxide nanocomposites were produced for 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%. The compression test was performed at three strain rates of ε ̇=〖10〗^(-3),〖10〗^(-2),〖10〗^(-1) s^(-1) at ambient temperature using a universal testing machine, Santam. The results showed that, by increasing the strain rate, the yield stress is increased. Moreover, the best weight percentage of clay and graphene oxide was 1% and 0.6%, respectively, which made improvement of 7.6% and 6.2% in the compression yield stress, respectively. Additionally, a model was proposed for predicting the compressive stress-strain curve at various strain rates based on a modified G’sell-Jonas model. The proposed model could reasonably predict the stress-strain curves at the applied strain rates. Finally, based on the combination of Eyring model and the micromechanical model of Turcsanyi, a model was proposed for describing the yield stress of the nanocomposite based on volume percentage of filler and strain rate.