LAUSR

Abstract One promising strategy towards the realization of synergistic enhanced strength and toughness of polymers is combining the functionalized fillers with them to produce composites, which facilitates to improve the compatibility, interfacial bonding and load transfer between filler and the matrix. In this study, the reinforced tensile and impact properties of polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) composites are acquired via addition of ethyl,vinyl-functionalized silica (E,V–SiO2) with reasonably small particle size of 500 nm and uniform size distribution. It is interestingly noted that the tensile ductility of E,V–SiO2/PDCPD composites is dramatically improved by 862% through incorporation of 0.2 wt% E,V–SiO2. More significantly, the maximum tensile strength and impact toughness are enhanced by 22% and 99% via addition of E,V–SiO2. Excellent dispersion of E,V–SiO2 in the matrix, efficacious load transfer from PDCPD to E,V–SiO2 and covalent bonding between vinyl groups and DCPD are responsible for the remarkable enhancements of yield strength, tensile ductility and impact toughness.