Effect of Barium Sulfate Nanoparticles on Mechanical Properties and Crystallization Behaviour of HDPE

Abstract

High density polyethylene (HDPE)-based composites were prepared by blending HDPE with BaSO4 nanoparticles, which had been treated with sodium stearate. Variations in crystallization behaviour, mechanical properties, storage modulus and damping parameter (tan d) with the addition of BaSO4 nanoparticles were investigated by SEM, XRD, DSC, DMA, etc. The crystallization rate steadily increased with the content of BaSO4 nanoparticles because of these nanoparticles acting as a heterogeneous nucleation agent. The impact strength of HDPE first increased and then decreased with increasing the content of BaSO4 nanoparticles. The maximum impact strength of HDPE nanocomposites was achieved at a weight ratio of BaSO4/HDPE = 1/100. However, the tensile yield stress gradually increased with the content of BaSO4 nanoparticles. Dynamic mechanical analysis data showed an increase in the storage modulus of composites with increasing content of BaSO4 nanoparticles. The tan d value of nanocomposites decreased in comparison to the neat HDPE. It was demonstrated that the BaSO4 nanoparticles treated with sodium stearate had stronger effective interface interaction with HDPE matrix and adding 1.0 wt.% modified BaSO4 nanoparticles could effectively reinforce HDPE matrix.