Effect of environment on flexural fatigue behavior of polyamide 66/hectorite nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites are promising for structural applications due to their high modulus and good corrosive resistance. The influence of environment on flexural fatigue behavior of polyamide 66/hectorite nanocomposites has been investigated in still air and circulated water mist environments. High hysteretic energy dissipation per cycle and high induced stress in mist lead to a significant drop in fatigue life in mist compared with that in air. The strain and hysteretic energy dissipation per cycle against fatigue life curves exhibited linear relationships on log-log scale in air. The failure analysis revealed a distinct deformation and fracture mechanisms in air and mist. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.