Ebrahim Nouri Niyaraki - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shushtar, Iran
Mohammad Reza Isvandzibaei - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Andimeshk Branch, Islamic Azad University, Andimeshk, Iran
Meysam Nouri Niyaraki - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

In this study, the tensile properties including tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene propylene diene monomers (EPDM) based nanocomposites reinforced with graphene nanosheets and nanoclay were investigated. Compounds include 0, 1 and 2 wt% graphene, 0, 3 and 5 wt% nanoclay and 0, 5 and 10wt% EPDM that prepared by an internal mixer. Samples were prepared by a hot press for mechanical testing. Mechanical tensile tests were performed to determine the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The addition of low amounts of graphene nanosheets increased the tensile strength by 15%, while the addition of high amounts ofthese nanosheets reduced the tensile strength. The increase in graphene nanosheets generally increased the modulus of elasticity by 40%. Adding nanoclay to 3 wt% increased the tensile strength by 16% and increased the modulus of elasticity by 47%, but an increase of more than 5 wt% has reduced the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Alsothe increase in EPDM to 10 wt% reduced the tensile strength by 13% and increase it to 10 wt% reduced the modulus of elasticity by 15%.

Tensile properties, graphene nanosheets, nanoclay, polypropylene, EPDM, SEM