Abstract
Cavitation in nanocomposites of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with either graphene nanoplatelets (G) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO) during tensile deformation and impact tests was studied. Composites of HDPE containing 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 wt% of G (HDPE + G) or rGO (HDPE + rGO) were processed using a twin-screw extruder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Izod impact tests, tensile drawing and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to study HDPE + G and HDPE + rGO nanocomposites. The effects of G and rGO contents on the thermal and mechanical properties of composites were investigated. The inclusion of G platelets in the matrix increased the onset temperature of nonisothermal crystallization of HDPE while inclusions of rGO did not. It was shown that during tensile drawing cavitation occurs in the nanocomposites and HDPE alone. The cavitation pores have sizes above 25 nm with the bias towards larger pores for both types of the nanocomposites. Smaller pores were healed due to the surface tension. In Izod tests the debonding of HDPE from the nanoplatelets occurred ahead of the traveling Izod crack tip giving rise to many voids becoming centers from which fracture emanated radially until impingement. There is only a small difference between HDPE + G and HDPE + rGO nanocomposites: G nanoplatelets nucleate the crystallization of HDPE.
Published Version
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