Study of macrofracture propagation in elastomeric composites

Abstract

We carried out experimental studies of fracture processes under tension in elastomeric nanocomposites based on siloxane rubber with fillers of various shapes: single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (1D filler), few-layer graphene (2D filler), detonation nanodiamonds (3D filler). The tests were performed on standard blade samples with a small side notch in the middle of the working part. The tensile process was recorded on video, which made it possible to capture propagation trajectories of the main crack in the sample at different stages of deformation and to perform an appropriate analysis. The samples of unfilled siloxane rubber demonstrated a significant deviation of the trajectory of the main crack from the direction of the initiating notch. A similar picture was observed when testing composites with 1D and 2D fillers. In the case of using carbon nanotubes, the fracture process developed differently: the crack growth was accompanied by the appearance of small, rapidly decaying side branches. The use of double filler (1D+2D particles) enhanced this effect considerably.