Atualmente, cargas nanométricas são utilizadas para desenvolver novos materiais poliméricos com melhor desempenho mecânico. Neste trabalho, foi empregada uma mistura de borracha termoplástica de poli(estireno-b-butadieno-b-estireno) (SBS) e de argila Montmorilonita (Cloisite 10A) via intercalação por fusão. Uma suspensão de Cloisite 10A em ciclohexano foi adicionada a SBS em solução. Para maior compatibilidade entre a argila e a borracha termoplástica utilizou-se uma borracha termoplástica epoxidada como agente compatibilizante. Neste estudo, a proporção argila compatibilizante foi de 0,6 até 3,0 para verificar a influência desta proporção nas propriedades mecânicas dos nanocompósitos. As propriedades morfológicas e mecânicas dos nanocompósitos foram avaliadas através da difração de raios X, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, ensaio de tração, análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA) e avaliação do torque final da mistura. A combinação de argila/conpatibilizante favoreceu a formação de estruturas mais alongadas de argila que promoveram o ganho de módulo e tensão com pequena redução de alongamento.

Nanoscale fillers have been used to develop new polymeric materials with better mechanical performance. In this study, a mixture of thermoplastic rubber, poly (styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS), and Montmorillonite (Cloisite 10A) was obtained via the melt intercalation. A suspension of Cloisite 10A in cyclohexane was added to SBS in solution. To increase the compatibility between the clay and the thermoplastic rubber an epoxidized rubber was used as coupling agent. The proportion of clay and compatibilizer was changed from 0.6 to 3.0 to probe the influence of this ratio on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The morphological and mechanical properties were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and evaluation of the final torque of the mixture. The combination of clay /compatibilizer favored the formation of elongated structures, leading to an increased modulus and strength with a small reduction in elongation.

The viscoelastic, mechanical and morphological properties of polypropylene/exfoliated graphite nanocomposites with different contents of nanofiller were investigated. According to transmission electron microscopy results, the nanofiller particles were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix. The rheological properties indicated that incorporation of graphite improved the matrix stiffness and had a reinforcing effect. Exfoliated graphite had a weak interaction with the polypropylene. The behavior of the nanocomposites was similar to that of polypropylene in terms of the interfacial detachment inferred from the transmission electron microscopy images and of their G' (storage) and G'' (loss) moduli, and viscosity. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites compared to the matrix improved significantly for the flexural and storage moduli with little loss of impact strength.

The focus of this paper is to establish a characterisation method for seven polyamide (PA) grades to determine the major material to manufacture an automotive worm gear. The composite properties were measured according to the worm gear loadings: tensile strength, Young's modulus, abrasion and impact resistance. They were also correlated to the PA moisture absorption and its glass fibre (GF) reinforcement. The data from mechanical tests were applied in the finite element analysis (FEA) using the von Mises stress criterion. Before the rig tests of the PA worm gears, the injection process was evaluated, through the capillary rheometry. A higher difficulty to process PA 6/6 30% GF was found, due to its lower apparent viscosity. In the end, the influence of moisture absorption was as decisive to the gear's material selection as the GF to the pinion. Thus, the PAs with the best performance were: PA 6 with 30% GF (gear) and with PA 60% GF (pinion).