Abstract
Composites of LDPE filled with different amounts of alumina Al 2 O 3 were prepared using co-mixing technique and melt-mixing. This technique, which is easy, non-toxic and inexpensive, has been successfully used in our laboratory for different polyolefins/metal oxides nanocomposites elaboration. Samples containing 0.5, 1 and 2 wt% of alumina, were prepared by melt-mixing at 190 °C without any chemical treatment or coupling agent. The effect of alumina treatment was studied. The Al 2 O 3 was first co-mixed with the stearic acid then added to the polymer. The stearic acid melts at 70 °C, thus ensuring the dispersion of the covered filler particles into the polymeric matrix, which leads to better experimental results. The morphological characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrical conductivity was also studied. The microstructure-properties relationships were also investigated. The composites prepared with the co-mixed Al 2 O 3 were compared to those prepared with the neat Al 2 O 3 . The thermogravimetric (TGA) results showed an enhancement of 55 °C in the thermal stability for the LDPE/Al 2 O 3 composition containing 1 wt% of treated Al 2 O 3 . The electrical conductivity results showed also an optimum value of 6.6.10–7 U –1 cm –1 for the same composition. Keywords: Composites, LDPE, Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles, stearic acid, co-mixing method
Highlights
The preparation of composite materials with reinforcing fillers is one of the successful methods used to improve the properties of polymers
We present the results obtained in the preparation and characterization of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-based nanocomposites, prepared with both pure and stearic acid-treated Al2O3
It is observed that the root-mean-square root mean square (RMS) value decreased from 334.05 nm to 63.25 nm for the treated Al2O3, which indicated that all alumina particles were covered by the stearic acid which ensure an excellent dispersion of the filler into the matrix:[18] same observations have been reported by O.K
Summary
The preparation of composite materials with reinforcing fillers is one of the successful methods used to improve the properties of polymers. For instance, Ren GuiHua et al studied the dielectric, optical and thermal properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/ZnO hybrid films.[12] Their results show that both the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of the composites increase with increasing ZnO weight fraction. We present the results obtained in the preparation and characterization of LDPE-based nanocomposites, prepared with both pure and stearic acid-treated Al2O3. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a commercial polymer with a wide range of applications This polyolefin presents high flexibility, good processability and excellent resistance to dilute and concentrated acids, alcohols, esters and bases.[15]. Mallem[18] has investigated the physicochemical properties of LDPE/Al2O3 and PP/Al2O3 compositions
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