Dynamic behavior and damping characteristics of carbon black polymer composites at high strain rates

The dynamic stress-strain behavior and the damping characteristics of carbon black (CB)/polymer composites at high strain rates are measured using the split Hopkinson pressure bar. These characteristics are determined for polyurethane impregnated with 20% CB nanoparticles and compared with those of pristine polyurethane at strain rates ranging between 2,400 and 7,000 s(-1). The obtained results indicate that the CB/polymer composites exhibit highly hysteretic stress-strain characteristics and have high storage modulus as well as high loss factor as compared to pristine polyurethane polymers. With such characteristics, the CB/polymer composites are observed to dissipate energy much higher than that dissipated by pristine polymers.