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.