Tensile strength of filled polymers

Abstract

Abstract A model is developed to predict the ultimate tensile strength of a particulate‐filled polymer which depends not only on the volume fraction of the filler and the elastic moduli of the two material phases, but also on the shape, size, and interfacial adhesion between the filler particle and the matrix. The effects of these parameters have been examined and attempts have been made to compare them with those available in the literature. Considering the complexity of fracture, the theoretical prediction is in reasonably good agreement with published experimental data.