Fabrication and characterization of ABS nano composite reinforced by nano sized alumina particulates

To study the effect of addition of alumina nano sized particles in ABS thermoplastic composites, ABS was reinforced by nano sized alumina particles through melt compounding. The microstructure, thermal stability, dynamic mechanical, static mechanical properties and tribological analysis of the developed nano composite were investigated in detail. The dispersion morphology of alumina particles in the ABS polymer matrix was investigated through SEM. Addition of the alumina into the ABS matrix increased the thermal stability of new developed composite. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) tests are carried out to investigate the viscoelastic deformation of ABS/Al2O3 nano composites with different (1–5 %) loading of alumina nano particles. It has been observed content and and change in Tg was obtained. The resulting nano composites with 1–3 vol %, alumina nano particles exhibit the maximum improvement of young’s modulus, tensile strength of elongation at break. The tribological properties were investigated by a pin-on-disc apparatus against the abrasive counter face. The addition of nano alumina nanoparticles was found to be able to apparently reduce they frictional coefficient, and consequently to decrease the wear volume loss and wear rate of ABS/alumina nano composites.