High UV-shielding Performance of Zinc Oxide/High-Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites

Abstract

Zinc oxide/high-density polyethylene nanocomposites with high-UV-shielding efficiency were reported. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the homogeneous precipitation method and calcination of the precursor at different temperatures. Zinc oxide/high-density polyethylene nanocomposites were subsequently prepared from high-density polyethylene and as-prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles via melt mixing process. The structural properties of the as-prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites were studied in detail using X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimeter, ultrasonic pulse echo technique, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscope. The optical properties of the obtained nanocomposites were shown to depend on zinc oxide particle size and content. The nanocomposite containing zinc oxide nanoparticles with an average particle size of 25.22 nm after calcination at 350°C was found to have the most optimal optical properties, namely high-visible light transparency and high-UV light shielding efficiency, which are desirable for many important applications.