Effect of Nanoparticle Mobility on Toughness of Polymer Nanocomposites

Nanoparticle orientation and alignment under tensile stress results in enhanced toughness in nanocomposite materials. This energy-dissipation mechanism, which is not observed in conventional polymer composites, is applicable to both semicrystalline and amorphous polymer-composite systems. The mechanism depends on the mobility of the nanoparticles in the matrix, as shown in the Figure before (left) and after (right) stretching.