Simulation and Experimental Study on Micro-crack Toughening Mechanism for Attapulgite/Epoxy Nanocomposite

The main purpose of this article is to study the effect of adding attapulgite nanoparticle into the polymer on micro-crack toughing. Commercial softwares Abaqus and ANSYS were utilized to simulate the stress field and the crack expanding condition in the attapulgite/epoxy composite. The pure polymer and the nanoparticle modified polymer were prepared to investigate the effect of the nanoparticle on the crack conditions of the composite. The simulation results showed that the nanoparticle enhanced the polymer by the stress field concentration around the nanoparticle which consumed more energy, made the matrix absorb less deformation energy, and hindered the extension of crack. The result of tensile experiment indicated that the tensile property was improved by adding nanoparticle into epoxy polymer. The Scan Electric Microscope image of the fracture surface indicated that the nanoparticle changed the fracture mechanism of the composite.