Experimental Values for the Elastic Constants of a Particulate-Filled Glassy Polymer

Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio have been measured simultaneously on a series of particulate composites containing volume fractions of filler up to 0.50. The composites consisted of small glass spheres imbedded in a rigid epoxy polymer matrix. The measured values were compared with theoretical values calculated from current theories. A recently generalized and simplified version of van der Poel’s theory provided the best agreement. It predicted values of Young’s modulus for composites with filler volume fractions up to 0.35. Measured values of Poisson’s ratio exhibited scattering, but were consistent with values calculated from van der Poel’s theory.