Structure, mechanical, and electrical properties of high-density polyethylene/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites processed by compression molding and blown film extrusion

Dong Xiang, Eileen Harkin-Jones, David Linton, Peter Martin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

The structure and properties of melt mixed high-density polyethylene/multi-walled carbon nanotube (HDPE/MWCNT) composites processed by compression molding and blown film extrusion were investigated to assess the influence of processing route on properties. The addition of MWCNTs leads to a more elastic response during deformations that result in a more uniform thickness distribution in the blown films. Blown film composites exhibit better mechanical properties due to the enhanced orientation and disentanglement of MWCNTs. At a blow up ratio (BUR) of 3 the breaking strength and elongation in the machine direction of the
film with 4 wt % MWCNTs are 239% and 1054% higher than those of compression molded (CM) samples. Resistivity of the composite films increases significantly with increasing BURs due to the destruction of conductive pathways. These pathways can be recovered partially using an appropriate annealing process. At 8 wt % MWCNTs, there is a sufficient density of nanotubes to maintain a
robust network even at high BURs.
Original languageEnglish
Article number42665
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Applied Polymer Science
Volume132
Issue number42
Early online date17 Jul 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 10 Nov 2015

Keywords

  • composites
  • nanotubes
  • properties and characterization
  • manufacturing
  • films

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