Title: Mechanical Response of Carbon-Based ABS Nanocomposites Across Quasi-Static and Intermediate Strain Rates

Authors: Syed Fahad Hassan, Mahmoodul Haq

DOI:

Abstract: The design of automotive components requires a detailed understanding of the strain-ratedependent plastic deformation behavior of thermoplastics and their composites. While strain-rate effects on mechanical properties are well recognized, their influence on both neat and nanoparticle-reinforced thermoplastics, particularly within the intermediate strain-rate regime, remains insufficiently characterized. To address this gap, the tensile response of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), a widely used automotive thermoplastic known for its toughness and impact resistance, was investigated across quasi-static and intermediate strain rates. Dogbone specimens of neat ABS were tested at three quasi-static strain rates to establish baseline behavior. ABS was subsequently reinforced with 1 wt.% of three carbon-based nanoparticles: M-5 graphene, C-750 graphene, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and evaluated under identical conditions. Under quasi-static loading, all nanocomposites exhibited increased tensile strength relative to neat ABS, with CNT-reinforced ABS showing the greatest enhancement, accompanied by a reduction in strain to failure indicative of a strength-ductility tradeoff. Intermediate strain-rate testing at 25 s-1, conducted using a custom-designed tensile strain rate fixture, revealed a markedly different response, with CNT-reinforced ABS no longer exhibiting the highest tensile strength. Across all materials, strain to failure decreased with increasing strain rate. The findings reveal that nanoparticle-induced strengthening observed under quasi-static conditions does not directly translate to intermediate strain rates, where dispersion and interfacial effects govern performance.

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Conference: SAMPE 2026

Publication Date: 2026/04/27

SKU: 130

Pages: 14

Price: $28.00