2. Summary of the Mechanical and Thermomechanical Properties of PHU–Epoxy /CNC-W and PHU–Epoxy/CNC-T Nanocomposites with Varying CNC Contents .
| Sample | Young’s modulus (MPa) | Tensile strength (MPa) | Strain-at-break(%) | Toughness (MJ m–3) | Effective Cross-link Density (mol m–3) | T g (°C, DSC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHU–epoxy/CNC-W-1 | 40.0 ± 5.7 | 6.3 ± 1.0 | 366.0 ± 36.1 | 11.7 ± 1.1 | - | 20 |
| PHU–epoxy/CNC-W-2 | 34.0 ± 7.8 | 10.1 ± 1.5 | 377.2 ± 20.8 | 16.4 ± 1.2 | 62.6 | 19 |
| PHU–epoxy/CNC-W-5 | 52.9 ± 7.4 | 10.7 ± 0.4 | 282.9 ± 14.9 | 15.6 ± 0.1 | 126.0 | 21 |
| PHU–epoxy/CNC-W-10 | 125.1 ± 33.4 | 11.7 ± 0.6 | 261.2 ± 18.3 | 17.0 ± 0.2 | 425.5 | 24 |
| PHU–epoxy/CNC-T-1 | 182.8 ± 23.5 | 11.8 ± 0.3 | 313.5 ± 42.7 | 26.6 ± 0.1 | 101.8 | 20 |
| PHU–epoxy/CNC-T-2 | 274.3 ± 22.1 | 12.5 ± 0.2 | 244.0 ± 12.4 | 27.2 ± 1.3 | 193.5 | 20 |
| PHU–epoxy/CNC-T-5 | 294.8 ± 35.6 | 15.1 ± 0.7 | 121.4 ± 17.6 | 16.1 ± 4.4 | 1364.4 | 19 |
a
Mechanical properties were obtained from tensile testing. Effective cross-link density was estimated from DMA storage modulus values measured at 120 °C in the rubbery region using rubber elasticity theory, and Tg was determined by DSC.