Production of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene-granite composite films by gelation/crystallization

Abstract

The present study reports on film of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) containing 1 mass% granite composite produced by gelation/crystallization technique at 150 °C from decalin solution. The morphology of UHMWPE-granite composite film was determined by using optical and scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetry and Raman. Uniform dispersion of granite particles within ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene solution was the first step to achieve ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene-granite sheet samples with excellent properties. In differential scanning calorimetry analysis 50.1 % crystallinity of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene-1 mass% granite composite was calculated from the endothermic peak area occurred around 142 °C which correspond to melting point of composite. Mechanical property of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene-1 mass% granite composite was tested with tensile test and shown to possess unique properties, in particular an increase of over 2.5 times in Young’s modulus in comparison with pure ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.