Effect of microfiber reinforcement on the morphology,electrical, and mechanical properties of the polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate)/carbon nanotube composites

In situ microfiber reinforced conductive polymer composites consisting of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) were prepared in a twin screw extruder followed by hot stretching of PET/CNT phase in HDPE matrix. For comparison purposes, the HDPE/PET blends and HDPE/PET/CNT composites were also produced without hot stretching. Extrusion process parameters, hot‐stretching speed, and CNT amount in the composites were kept constant during the experiments. Effects of PET content and molding temperature on the morphology, electrical, and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. Morphological observations showed that PET/CNT microfibers were successfully formed in HDPE phase. Electrical conductivities of the microfibrillar composites were in semi‐conductor range at 0.5 wt% CNT content. Microfiber reinforcement improved the tensile strength of the microfibrillar HDPE/PET/CNT composites in comparison to that of HDPE/PET blends and HDPE/PET/CNT composites prepared without hot stretching. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Improved tensile properties of carbon nanotube modified epoxy and its continuous carbon fiber reinforced composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to improve the tensile properties of an epoxy resin and its continuous carbon fiber (CF) reinforced composites. Micrography picture showed that CNTs has been well incorporated into the composites, and made the fracture cross section more rougher through sharing the stress. For the CNT/epoxy composite, the tensile strength and modulus both increased upon the CNT addition, and at a CNT volume concentration of 2.0%, the maximum enhancements in the tensile strength and modulus were achieved as 26.7% and 21.5%, respectively. For the CNT‐CF/epoxy composite, the maximum enhancement in tensile strength was achieved as 11.6% at a CNT volume concentration of 1.0% and then decreased with the further increase of the CNT addition, but the tensile modulus increased monotonically upon the CNT addition. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1664–1668, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

振动挤出对HDPE/碳纤维复合材料流变行为和性能的影响

通过在挤出成型过程中引入振动场,研究了加工过程中HDPE/碳纤维(CF)复合材料在振动场中的流变行为,并借助拉伸性能检测以及差示扫描量热分析(DSC)、扫描电镜(SEM)等测试方法,分析了HDPE/CF复合材料的结构与性能。结果表明:振动挤出可以显著降低熔体的表观黏度,最大降幅为56.95%,同时还可改善制品的力学性能,拉伸强度最大增幅为15.1%;材料力学性能的提高可归因于其微观形态结构的变化,振动使HDPE/CF复合材料基体晶粒细化、晶体排列更加规整、结晶度略有提高,并增强了CF与基体间的界面黏合作用。     

Voltage–current characteristics of high-density polyethylene conductive composites

The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conductive composites filled separately with carbon fibers (CFs), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and three kinds of carbon blacks (CBs) (including different diameter, BET specific area, and DBP value) were prepared, to investigate the influence of the property, size, and content of the conductive fillers on the nonlinear voltage–current characteristics of the HDPE conductive composites. The results showed that the relationship between the electric current density and the electric field intensity of the three HDPE/CB composites including the HDPE/CF composites, the HDPE/CB/CF composites, and the HDPE/EVA/CB composites was nonlinear. The nonlinear conductivity index of the HDPE/CF composites was kept a low level comparing to the HDPE/CB composites, the HDPE/CB/CF composites, and the HDPE/EVA/CB composites. Moreover, the nonlinear conductive behavior mechanisms were discussed.     

Effects of Carbon Fillers on Crystallization Properties and Thermal Conductivity of Poly(phenylene sulfide)

Differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy methods were used to investigate the crystallization behavior and isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS)/carbon nanotube (CNT) and PPS/CNT/carbon fiber (CF) composites. In this article, the influences of CNT and CF on PPS crystallization behavior are explained. The thermal conductivity properties of composites were studied using the laser flash method. The results show that CNT increased crystallization temperature and rate and thermal conductivity greatly improved at 8 wt.% CNT content. In addition, the crystallization and thermal performance of PPS are significantly improved via synergistic effects of CNT and CF in the composites.     

Multifunctional high density polyethylene nanocomposites produced by incorporation of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets 1: Morphology and mechanical properties

This research explores the potential of using exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets, xGnP, as the reinforcement in high density polyethylene (HDPE). Two kinds of xGnP nanoparticles were used; xGnP‐1 has the thickness of 10 nm and a platelet diameter of 1 μm, whereas xGnP‐15 has the same thickness but the diameter is around 15 μm. HDPE/xGnP nanocomposite were fabricated first by melt blending and then followed by injection molding. The HDPE/xGnP nanocomposite's flexural strength, modulus and impact strength were evaluated and compared with composites filled with commercial reinforcements such as carbon fibers (CF), carbon black (CB) and glass fibers (GF). Polymer nanocomposites from HDPE/xGnP are equivalent in flexural stiffness and strength to HDPE composites reinforced with glass fibers and carbon black but slightly less than that of HDPE/carbon fiber composites at the same volume fraction. However, the Izod impact strength of HDPE/xGnP nanocomposites is significantly greater (∼250%) than all other reinforcements at the same volume fractions. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Direct measurement of grafting strength between an individual carbon nanotube and a carbon fiber

Hierarchical structures consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grafted onto a carbon fiber (CF) have the potential to improve the performance of fiber/polymer composites. The strength between a CNT and a CF is a key factor that influences the load-transfer behavior and inter-laminar properties. Here, we directly measured the grafting strength of a chemically bonded CNT–CF hierarchical structure by detaching individual CNT from the CF substrate and simultaneously recording the force–displacement characteristics in a scanning electron microscopy equipped with a nano-manipulator. We observed a relatively wide distribution of the maximum forces at complete detachment for different grafted CNTs, which ranges from below the van der Waals (vdW) force existing at the CNT–CF interface up to 7 times higher than that. For a typical configuration where a CNT is partially anchored on a CF, we obtained grafting strengths in the range of 5–90 MPa, which are dominated by the vdW force as well as other factors such as chemical bonding. Our results, based on the measurements at individual nanostructure level, might be useful for designing and fabrication of high performance hierarchical composites.     

滑石粉及CaCO3对HDPE的共复合研究

在反应性偶联剂及助偶联剂存在下，将CaCO3或滑石粉对高密度聚乙烯（HDPE）进行复合时，随复合粉体含量的增加，CaCO3复合体系表现为拉伸强度下降但冲击强度大幅度增加，滑石粉复合体系则表现为拉伸强度有较大的增加但冲击强度有较大的下降；将滑石粉和CaCO3进行共复合时，可以同时发挥片状滑石粉的增强作用和近球状CaCO3的增韧作用，得到综合力学性能较好的复合材料，但其配合比、粉体总添加量及助偶联剂添加量将对体系的力学性能产生较大的影响；各体系冲击断面的扫描电子显微镜照片所显示的微观形状和其力学物性有较好的对应，证明在共复合体系中，CaCO3既能通过偶联剂及助偶联剂的作用对HDPE产生较好的增韧效果，又能对滑石粉的分散起到一定的促进作用，使体系的拉伸强度有所提高。     

Correlated electrical conductivity and mechanical property analysis of high-density polyethylene filled with graphite and carbon fiber

The development of conductive polymer composites remains an important endeavor in light of growing energy concerns. In the present work, graphite (G), carbon fiber (CF) and G/CF mixtures are added to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to discern if mixed fillers afford appreciable advantages over single fillers. The effects of filler type and composition on electrical conductivity, composite morphology and mechanical properties have been examined and correlated to establish structure-property relationships. The threshold loading levels required for G and CF to achieve measurable conductivity in HDPE have been identified. Addition of CF to HDPE/G composites is found to increase the conductivity relative to that of HDPE/G composites at the same filler concentration. This observed increase depends on CF length and becomes more pronounced at and beyond the threshold loading of the HDPE/G composite. Scanning electron microscopy is employed to elucidate the morphology of these multicomponent composites, whereas dynamic mechanical analysis reveals that filler concentration, composition and CF length impact both the magnitude and temperature dependence of the dynamic storage modulus.     

硅烷偶联剂对HDPE/木粉复合材料性能的影响

使用经硅烷偶联剂HP-172和HP-174改性的木粉制备了HDPE/木粉复合材料,研究了偶联剂用量对其性能的影响。实验结果表明:当使用1.5%的HP-172处理木粉后,可使复合材料的各项力学性能提高30%以上;HP-174的用量为1%~1.5%也得到了较好的改性效果。通过FIR和SEM分析发现,硅烷偶联剂可与木粉表面发生化学反应,从而提高了HDPE与木粉的界面粘合强度,使复合材料的力学性能得以提高     

Effect of various methods of pre-treatment of carbon fibers on the mechanical properties of PIP-based ceramics/carbon composites

The purpose of the work was to determine the conditions of CF preparation to obtain carbide composites with favorable mechanical response. The relationships between the interfacial properties of fiber/polymethylsiloxane composite, and mechanical properties of the resulting fiber/carbide composites were investigated. The CF/resin interfacial strength was modified by oxidation of CF surface with nitric acid, silanization, and depositing CNT or a pyrolytic carbon layer (PyC). The study of composite interphases (ILSS and SEM) and surface tests of the modified CF (XPS, FT-IR, wettability measurements) showed different nature of the bonding occurring at the fiber/resin and fiber/ceramics boundary. The CF silanization significantly improved the ILSS between CFs and resin by 38.5%, while reduced flexural properties of carbide composites. The most promising treatment method of CF for PIP-based ceramic composites was modification with PyC, which provided 2 times higher ILSS, 1.5 times higher flexural strength and improved work to fracture (WF) as compared to unmodified CF.     

Continuous growth of carbon nanotubes on the surface of carbon fibers for enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption properties

As electromagnetic wave (EMW) pollution has become a serious problem in daily life, lightweight, efficient, and mass-produced EMW-absorbing materials are urgently needed. Herein, we developed a novel method for the continuous growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surface of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers (CFs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which can be applied to mass production. The obtained CF/CNT composites demonstrate outstanding EMW absorption capability, exhibiting a -58.75 dB reflection loss (RL) at a thickness of 1.54 mm. An effective absorption bandwidth (RL < -10 dB) of 4.24 GHz (13.76–18.00 GHz) was achieved at a thickness as low as 1.25 mm, which almost covers the entire Ku band. The excellent EMW-absorbing performance can be attributed to the 3D conductive network constructed by the CNT forest, which effectively promotes multiple reflections and scattering, and further favors dipole and interface polarizations. The mechanical properties of CF, CF-electrochemical anodic oxidation (EAO), and CF/CNT composites were examined, the results showed that the single-filament tensile strength of CF/CNT@0.07 and CF/CNT@0.09 was effectively improved. Our work suggests that the novel CF/CNT composite is a promising material for EMW absorption and strength enhancement owing to its light weight, high strength, low thickness, and good scale-up ability.     

偶联剂处理超细CaCO3增韧HDPE研究

用合成的异氰酸酯偶联剂，对超细碳酸钙（CaCO3）进行了表面处理，考察了处理后CaCO3对高密度聚乙烯（HDPE）的增韧效果。FTIR，SEM及力学性能测试等结果表明，异氰酸酯偶联剂在CaCO3表面产生了化学偶联作用，并且异氰酸酯偶联剂与钛酸酯偶联剂共用时有协同作用。在CaCO3临界质量分数为40％时，材料的冲击强度达到最大值43．2kJ／m^2，同时材料的刚性能够基本保持。随着CaCO3含量的变化，材料的熔体流动速率与冲击强度有着相似的变化规律，认为CaCO3粒子周围存在的塑性界面过渡区，是导致材料的熔体流动速率和冲击强度提高的原因。     

Comparative study of EMI shielding effectiveness for carbon fiber pultruded polypropylene/poly(lactic acid)/multiwall CNT composites prepared by injection molding versus screw extrusion

The electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of the composites of polypropylene/poly(lactic acid) (PP/PLA) (70/30, wt %) with single filler of multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT) or hybrid fillers of nickel‐coated carbon fiber (CF) and CNT were investigated. For the single filler composite, higher electrical conductivity was observed when the PP‐g‐maleic anhydride was added as a compatibilizer between the PP and PLA. For the composite of the PP/PLA (70/30)/CF (20 phr)/CNT (5 phr), the composite prepared by injection molding observed a higher EMI shielding effectiveness of 50.5 dB than the composite prepared by screw extrusion (32.3 dB), demonstrating an EMI shielding effectiveness increase of 49.8%. The higher values in EMI shielding effectiveness and electrical conductivity of the PP/PLA/CF (20 phr)/CNT (5 phr) composite seemed mainly because of the increased CF length when the composites were prepared using injection molding machine, compared with the composites prepared by screw extrusion. This result suggests that the fiber length of the conductive filler is an important factor in obtaining higher values of electrical conductivity and EMI shielding effectiveness of the PP/PLA/CF/CNT composites. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45222.     

Effect of Coupling Agent Concentration,Fiber Content,and Size on Mechanical Properties of Wood/HDPE Composites

In this study, the influence of coupling agent concentration (0 and 3 wt%), wood fiber content (50, 60, 70, and 80 wt%), and size (40–60, 80–100, and 160–180 mesh) on the mechanical properties of wood/high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) composites (WPCs) was investigated. WPC samples were prepared with poplar wood-flour, HDPE, and polyethylene maleic anhydride copolymer (MAPE) as coupling agent. It was found that the tensile properties and the flexural properties of the composites were improved by the addition of 3 wt% MAPE, and the improved interfacial adhesion was well confirmed by SEM micrographs. It was also observed that the best mechanical properties of wood/HDPE composites can be reached with larger particle size in the range studied, while too-small particle size was adverse for the mechanical properties of wood/HDPE composites. Moreover, the tensile modulus, tensile strength, and flexural strength of WPCs decreased with the increase in fiber content from 50 to 80 wt%; the flexural modulus of WPCs increased with the increase in fiber content from 50 to 70 wt% and then decreased as the fiber content reached 80 wt%. The variances in property performance are helpful for the end-user to choose an appropriate coupling agent (MAPE) concentration, wood fiber content, and particle size based on performance needs and cost considerations.     

Influence of fly ash cenospheres on performance of coir fiber‐reinforced recycled high‐density polyethylene biocomposites

Recycled high‐density polyethylene (RHDPE)/coir fiber (CF)‐reinforced biocomposites were fabricated using melt blending technique in a twin‐screw extruder and the test specimens were prepared in an automatic injection molding machine. Variation in mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, water absorption, and thermal stability with the addition of fly ash cenospheres (FACS) in RHDPE/CF composites were investigated. It was observed that the tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness properties of RHDPE increase with an increase in fiber loading from 10 to 30 wt %. Composites prepared using 30 wt % CF and 1 wt % MA‐g‐HDPE exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in tensile modulus to 217%, flexural strength to 30%, flexural modulus to 97%, and hardness to 27% when compared with the RHDPE matrix. Addition of FACS results in a significant increase in the flexural modulus and hardness of the RHDPE/CF composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests of the RHDPE/CF/FACS biocomposites in presence of MA‐g‐HDPE revealed an increase in storage (E′) and loss (E″) modulus with reduction in damping factor (tan δ), confirming a strong influence between the fiber/FACS and MA‐g‐HDPE in the RHDPE matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis thermograms also showed improved thermal properties in the composites when compared with RHDPE matrix. The main motivation of this study was to prepare a value added and low‐cost composite material with optimum properties from consumer and industrial wastes as matrix and filler. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42237.     

Processability,morphology and mechanical properties of wood flour reinforced high density polyethylene composites

Abstract

Wood flour reinforced high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites have been prepared and their rheological properties measured. The melt viscosity decreased as the processing temperature increased and the wood flour content decreased. A power law model was used to describe the pseudoplasticity of these melts. Adding wood flour to HDPE produced an increase in tensile strength and modulus. Composites compounded in a twin screw extruder and treated with a coupling agent (vinyltrimethoxysilane) or a compatibliser (HDPE grafted with maleic anhydride) exhibited better mechanical properties than the corresponding unmodified composites because of improved dispersion and good adhesion between the wood fibre and the polyalkene matrix. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces of these composites showed that both the coupling agent and compatibiliser gave superior interfacial strength between the wood fibre and the polyalkene matrix.     

High viscosity polyethylene-based electroconductive nanocomposites: carbon nanotubes versus carbon nanofibres

In this study, two types of carbonaceous nanoparticles, i.e., carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF) were compared with respect to their ability for endowing electroconductive properties to a high viscosity high density polyethylene (HDPE) by melt blending. Only CNT were found to be efficient to reach electrical percolation in high density polyethylene (HDPE) system at small amount of nanoparticles (between 2 and 5 wt%). Despite different treatments performed onto CNF either to remove surface impurities or to tune their interaction with the polyolefinic matrix by adding a modifying agent compatible with HDPE, it was not possible to obtain conductive composites even in the presence of a high amount of CNF, i.e., 10 wt%. Such a behavior resulted from the intensive aggregation of the CNF that proved to be highly difficult to individualize upon dispersion within high viscosity HDPE.     

Effects of carbon fiber modification with multiwall CNT on the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding effectiveness of polycarbonate/carbon fiber/CNT composites

The effect of carbon fiber (CF) modification with multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT) on the electrical, mechanical, and rheological properties of the polycarbonate (PC)/CF/CNT composite was investigated. The CF and multiwall CNT (MWCNT) were treated with sulfuric acid and nitric acid (3:1 wt %) mixture, to modify the CF with the CNT. For the PC with acid-treated CNT (a-CNT) modified acid-treated CF (a-CF) (PC/a-CF/a-CNT) composite, the electrical conductivity, and the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) showed the highest values, compared with those of the PC/a-CF and PC/a-CF/CNT composites. The EMI SE of the PC/a-CF (10 wt %)/a-CNT (0.5 wt %) composite was found to be 26 (dB at the frequency of 10.0 GHz, and the EMI SE was increased by 91.2%, compared to that of the PC/a-CF composite at the same amount of total filler content. Among the composites studied in this work, the PC/a-CF/a-CNT composite also showed the highest values of relative permittivity (ε_r) and dielectric loss factor. The above results suggest that the CF modification with the a-CNT significantly affected the electrical conductivity and EMI SE of the composite, and the hybrid fillers of the a-CNT and a-CF resulted in good electrical pathways in the PC/a-CF/a-CNT composite. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47302.     

Preparation and Characterization of Organically Modified Montmorillonite-Filled High Density Polyethylene/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

The study investigated the introduction of organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) in high density polyethylene/hydroxyapatite (HDPE/HA) composites for biomedical applications. The addition of HA and MMT increased the strength and stiffness of HDPE/HA composites with deterioration in impact strength and elongation at break values. XRD and TEM analysis provided evidence of exfoliated MMT layers in HDPE/HA composites and the MMT layers remained exfoliated even with further addition of HA. Simulated body fluid (SBF) analysis revealed that the size of apatite layer increased with increasing immersion time and the formation of apatite layers on the surface of composites indicates excellent biocompatibility properties.