Abstract

In recent years, the development of nano‐reinforced composite materials has garnered great interest in the materials science community. These materials, a synthesis of a base matrix polymer and particles, where at least one aspect of the particle is in the nanometre‐scale, have been shown to improve the mechanical properties, i.e. the stiffness and toughness, of the matrix material. However, there is relatively little published work on the high strain rate deformation of these composites and even fewer examples of their fully characterised mechanical properties. This seminar will give a brief overview of the properties of polymer based nanocomposites and report on the work carried out in Loughborough on the behaviour of polyethylene based composites utilising Carbon Black (CB), Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Exfoliated Hectorite Nanoclay (Clay) and Carbon Nanotubes (CNT)as filler materials.