Application of time–stress superposition to nonlinear creep of polyamide 66 filled with nanoparticles of various sizes

The long-term tensile creep of polyamide 66 and its nanocomposites filled with 1 vol.% TiO2 nanoparticles 21 and 300 nm in diameter is studied. It is assumed that the dominant mechanisms of creep deformation are of viscoelastic nature, while the contribution of plastic strains is not essential in the stress (< 0.6 of the ultimate stress) and time (about 100 hours) ranges considered. The creep isochrones obtained show that the materials exhibit a nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour and the degree of nonlinearity is reduced significantly by incorporation of the nanoparticles. The evolution of viscoelastic strains is less pronounced for the nanocomposite filled with smaller nanoparticles. Smooth …