Preparation of fullerene-containing nanocomposite materials based on high-density polyethylene via environmental crazing and their performance

Abstract

This work offers a new concept relying on the Rehbinder effect in polymers for the preparation of fullerene-containing nanocomposite materials with added functionality. Tensile drawing of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) films in the solutions of 1,2–dichlorobenzene containing С60-С70 fullerenes (FL) proceeds via the environmental crazing according in the presence of surface active liquids (the Rehbinder effect). Environmental crazing provides the development of a highly developed surface and a mesoporous structure with a uniform distribution of monomeric FL within the HDPE matrix. The content of FL in the FL/HDPE nanocomposite materials can be varied from 1 to 8 wt%. Performance of the FL/HDPE nanocomposite materials (optical properties, thermal stability, mechanical characteristics) was studied by different physicochemical methods (TGA, UV- spectroscopy, tensile tests, etc.). Introduction of FL to HDPE is shown to increase the temperature of thermal degradation onset of HDPE by 30 °C. Rolling as the additional stage off post-treatment allows preparation of the FL/HDPE nanocomposite materials with high mechanical properties. This process can be upscaled using the existing technological equipment for the orientational drawing of polymers. The FL/HDPE nanocomposites with improved thermal resistance and good mechanical properties can be used as innovative optoelectronic materials within a broad temperature interval.