Structure and mechanical properties of polyethylene-fullerene composites

Abstract

The microhardness of films of fullerene-polyethylene composites prepared by gelation from semidilute solution, using ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (PE) (6×106), has been determined. The composite materials were characterized by optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The microhardness of the films is shown to increase notably with the concentration of fullerene particles within the films. In addition, a substantial hardening of the composites is obtained after annealing the materials at high temperatures (T a=130 °C) and long annealing times (t a=105s). The hardening of the composites with annealing temperature has been identified with the thickening of the PE crystalline lamellae. Comparison of X-ray scattering data and the microhardness values upon annealing leads to the conclusion of phase separation of C60 molecules from the polyethylene crystals within the material. The temperature dependence is discussed in terms of the independent contribution of the PE matrix of the C60 aggregates to the hardness value.