Development of master curves for nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour of nanofiller-reinforced composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced polypropylene (MWCNT/PP) nanocomposites were prepared through solution mixing and characterized for their nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour. The effect of applied stress, time and temperature was studied to obtain compliance responses. Time–temperature superposition principle was applied on experimentally obtained isothermal compliance curves using horizontal shift factors from William–Landel–Ferry and Arrhenius models. Horizontal shifting was found to be helpful in determining temperature-dependent short- and long-term behaviour of the developed nanocomposite material. Neat PP material was found to be more prone to deformation at considered temperatures. 1% MWCNT PP nanocomposite was observed with lower compliance as compared to other samples.