Nanocomposites from Recycled Polyethylene

Lei and co-workers [58] used both PE-g-MA and titanate for the compatibilisation of recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) with nanoclay. Both compatibilisers 

Hill and co-workers [59] also studied the improvement of mechanical properties of rHDPE through the addition of MMT and bentonite types of nanoclay and cellulose fibre. They found that Cloisite 20A is the most compatible clay for this system, due to its nature. Similarly, it was revealed that bentonite could compete with Cloisite 20A clay in the imparted mechanical properties. For all clay types, an increase in modulus was observed upon the addition of 1 vol% of nanoclay. However, only Cloisite 20A improved the modulus upon the addition of more nanoclay. In the hybrid system containing both nanoclay and cellulose, the effective stiffening and strengthening were provided by nanoclay and cellulose, respectively. 

The most favourable conditions for obtaining optimised rHDPE nanocomposites are detailed in Table 3.4. It is concluded that only a slight content of nanofillers is enough to increase the rHDPE properties. 

Reproduced with permission from Y. Zare, Waste Management, 2013, 33, 598. 2013, Elsevier [3] 

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