Shear, Bulk, and Young’s Moduli of Clay/Polymer Nanocomposites Containing the Stacks of Intercalated Layers as Pseudoparticles

Abstract

The pseudoparticles include the stacks of intercalated layers in the case of incomplete clay exfoliation in clay/polymer nanocomposites. In this article, the effects of pseudoparticle properties on the shear, bulk, and Young’s moduli of nanocomposites are studied using the Norris model. The properties of pseudoparticles are determined in some samples by the experimental data of Young’s modulus and the roles of pseudoparticles in the shear, bulk, and Young’s moduli of nanocomposites are discussed. The calculations show a good agreement with the experimental data when the pseudoparticles are taken into account in the samples. A low number of clay layers in the pseudoparticles present high moduli in nanocomposites. Moreover, the Poisson ratio and Young’s modulus of polymer matrix play different roles in the shear, bulk, and Young’s moduli of nanocomposites.