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The influence of cell size on the mechanical properties of nanocellular PMMA

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Martín-de León, J  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6567-1783
Fleck, NA 
Rodríguez-Pérez, MÁ 

Abstract

Solid-state foaming experiments are conducted on three grades of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Nanocellular PMMA foams are manufactured with an average cell size ranging from 20 nm to 84 nm and a relative density between 0.37 and 0.5. For benchmarking purposes, additional microcellular PMMA foams with an average cell size close to 1 µm and relative density close to that of the nanocellular foams are manufactured. Uniaxial compression tests and single edge notch bend tests are conducted on the PMMA foams. The measured Young’s modulus and yield strength of the PMMA foams are independent of cell size whereas the fracture toughness of the PMMA foam increases with decreasing average cell size from the micron range to the nanometer range.

Description

Keywords

Mechanical properties, Nanocellular polymer, PMMA

Journal Title

Polymer

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0032-3861
1873-2291

Volume Title

181

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
EPSRC (1611305)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) ERC (206409)
Financial assistance from MINECO, FEDER, UE (MAT2015-69234-R), the Junta of Castile and Leon (VA275P18) and Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RTI2018-098749-B-I00) are gratefully acknowledged. Financial support from FPU grant FPU14/02050 (V. Bernardo) from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Junta of Castile and Leon grant (J. Martín-de León) are gratefully acknowledged. Financial support from SABIC and the EPSRC award 1611305 (F. Van Loock), and the ERC project MULTILAT (N. A. Fleck) are acknowledged too.