Characterizations of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposite films with organomica

Abstract

AbstractUltrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites with various organoclay contents were prepared by using the solution intercalation method. Up to a clay loading of 4 wt%, the clay particles were found to be highly dispersed in the UHMWPE matrix without any agglomeration of particles. However, for a clay content above 6 wt% some agglomerated structures form in the polymer matrix. The melting transition temperatures (Tms) and ultimate strengths of the hybrids increase with increasing clay content; the maximum values of these properties were obtained for the hybrid containing 2 wt% of the organoclay. However, the thermal degradation stability and initial modulus are at their maximum values when the amount of organoclay in the hybrid is 4 wt%. The oxygen permeability, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and transmittance at 400 nm were found to monotonically decrease with increases in the clay loading in the range 0 to 10 wt%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers