Enhancing the dielectric properties of compatibilized high-density polyethylene/calcium carbonate nanocomposites using high-density polyethylene-g-maleic anhydride

Abstract

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and nanoparticles of calcium carbonate (NCC) have been mixed via melt blending technique using different ratios of NCC as nanofiller and high-density polyethylene-g-maleic anhydride (HDPE-g-MA) as a compatibilizer. The combined effect of NCC as well as HDPE-g-MA concentrations on the breakdown strength and dielectric spectroscopy performance of HDPE was investigated. According to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard, the ac breakdown voltage of such nanocomposites was measured at constant 500 V/s ramp. The ac breakdown voltage was enhanced by 8.2% for HDPE/ 2wt% NCC and reached 21% in the presence of 1 wt% HDPE-g-MA which increases the efficiency of NCC dispersion. The surface morphology of synthesized HDPE/NCC and HDPE/NCC/HDPE-g-MA nanocomposites was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). FE-SEM images showed an enhanced dispersion of NCC that may be due to good adhesion between NCC and HDPE under the compatibilization effect of HDPE-g-MA. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed chemical interaction between HDPE-g-MA and stearic acid on the surface of NCC and physical entanglement among HDPE and HDPE-g-MA. Dielectric constant (e′) and tangent loss (tan δ) were measured under different applied frequency values from 1 kHz to 1 MHz.