Incorporation of carbon nanotubes into polyethylene by high energy ball milling: Morphology and physical properties |
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| Authors: | Giuliana Gorrasi Maria Sarno Antonio Di Bartolomeo Diana Sannino Paolo Ciambelli Vittoria Vittoria |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (SA), ItalyDepartment of Chemical and Food Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy;2. Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy;3. Department of Physics, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi (SA), Italy |
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| Abstract: | High energy ball milling (HEBM) was utilized, as an innovative process, to incorporate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into a polyethylene (PE) matrix avoiding: high temperatures, solvents, ultrasonication, chemical modification of carbon nanotubes. Composites with 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 wt % of carbon nanotubes were prepared. Films were obtained melting the powders in a hot press. Morphology and physical properties (thermal, mechanical, electrical properties) were evaluated. The used processing conditions allowed to obtain a satisfactory level of dispersion of CNTs into the PE matrix with a consequent improvement of the physical properties of the samples. The thermal degradation was significantly delayed already with 1–2% wt of CNTs. The mechanical properties resulted greatly improved for low filler content (up to 3% wt). The electrical measurements showed a percolation threshold in the range 1–3 wt % of CNTs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 597–606, 2007 |
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| Keywords: | nanocomposites polyethylene (PE) thermal properties |
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