Cavitation in high density polyethylene/Al2O3 nanocomposites

Abstract In the paper the cavitation phenomenon during tensile deformation of high density polyethylene/Al2O3 nanocomposites was analyzed. The influence of solidification process, filler content and diameter of its particles on the structure of HDPE/Al2O3 nanocomposites was described. Two different types of cavitation, i.e.: interlamellar cavitation of polymer matrix and cavitation around filler particles (by debonding), were identified. High intensity of cavitation by debonding was related to numerosity of small particles as compared to cavitation by large particles at similar weight concentration. Finally, the influence of different cavitation types on the intensity of fragmentation of lamellar crystals was presented.