Analysis of apparent activation energy of shear viscosity of PVC/ZnO nanocomposite, at its phase transition temperature

Abstract The present paper deals with analysis of apparent activation energy of shear viscosity of PVC/ZnO nanocomposite, at its phase transition temperature. In this approach storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), shear viscosity (ƞ) and phase transition temperature (Tg) of the PVC and its ZnO nanocomposite are ascertained through Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). The variation between log (ƞ) versus (Tg/T) indicates the fragile behavior of the specimen that further depicts the nature of Arrhenius behavior of the specimen near its Tg. The slope of the curve between log (ƞ) versus (Tg/T) characterizes as fragility that is numerically equals to apparent activation energy of shear viscosity, particularly at its phase transition temperature. The study reveals that the apparent activation energy of shear viscosity of PVC changes due to dispersion of ZnO nanofillers.