High density polyethylene, HDPE nanocomposites

Tanniru M., Yuan Q. and Misra R. D. K., On significant retention of impact strength in clay-reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposites . Polymer, 2006, 47, 2133-2146. 

This chapter covers fundamental and applied research on polyester/clay nanocomposites (Section 31.2), which includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET), blends of PET and poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxy-late) (PEN), and unsaturated polyester resins. Section 31.3 deals with polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)-montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites, including blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Section 31.4 analyzes the fire-retardant properties of nanocomposites made of high impact polystyrene (HIPS), layered clays, and nonhalogenated additives. Section 31.5 discusses the conductive properties of blends of PET/PMMA (poly (methyl methacrylate)) and PET/HDPE combined with several types of carbon... 

Even though this technique has been mostly used with water-soluble polymers, such as PEO, polyvinyl ether (PVE), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) [134-141], intercalation from nonaqueous solutions has also been reported [142-145]. For example, high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-based nanocomposites have been prepared by dissolving HDPE in a mixture of xylene and benzonitrile with dispersed organomodified layered silicates (OMLSs). The nanocomposite was then recovered by precipitation from tetrahydrofuran (THE) [143], Polystyrene (PS)/OMLS-exfoliated nanocomposites have also been prepared by the solution intercalation technique, by mixing pure PS and organophilic clay with adsorbed cetyl pyrid-ium chloride [146]. Similarly, several studies have focused on the preparation of polylactide (PLA)-layered silicate nanocomposites using intercalation from solution. 

The authors of papers [6, 7] found out, that the introduction of particulate nanofiller (calciiun carbonate (CaCOj)) into high density polyethylene (HDPE) results in nanocomposites HDPE/CaCOj impact toughness in comparison with the initial polymer by about 20%. The authors [6, 7] performed this effect detailed fractographic analysis and explained the observed increase by nanocomposites HDPE/CaCOj plastic deformation mechanism change in comparison with the initial HDPE. Without going into details of the indicated analysis, one should note some reasons for doubts in its correctness. In Figure 9.1 the schematic diagrams load-time... 

Figure 8.14 The dependences of free volume microvoid diameter on epoxy polymer contents c p for HDPE/EP nanocomposites. The calculation of d according to Equation 8.13 for oxygen (1) and nitrogen (2) and d according to Equation 8.15 (3). The horizontal dashed lines indicate experimental values of for polyethylenes of high (4) and low (5) density [40]...

---