Synthesis and Mechanical Characterization of High Density Polyethylene/Graphene Nanocomposites

A S Alghamdi

doi:10.48084/etasr.1961

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) addition on the mechanical and thermal properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE). The HDPE/Graphene nanocomposites were synthesized using solution blending approach. HDPE was incorporated with graphene nanosheets in a solvent at various weights of fractions (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5 wt%), and then the micro-hardness, elastic modulus, tensile strength, strain at break and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were measured and compared. The results showed that the use of Xylene solvent at high temperature combined with mechanical stirring can fully dissolve HDPE pellets. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that GNSs were homogenously dispersed in the polyethylene matrix at low weights of fractions. The addition of just 0.2 wt% GNSs resulted in 100% increase in the micro-hardness value. The elastic modulus and tensile strength properties are proportionally increased with increasing GNSs content up to 0.4 wt%. However, at higher weight of fraction, a reduction in these properties is observed. The crystallinity and strain at break properties are reduced with the addition of GNSs.

Highlights

Polymer-based nanocomposites of current academic interest are finding an increasing range of industrial applications, making them the most widely commercialised class of nanocomposites [1]
The incorporation of low weight of fraction of nanoparticles or nanosheets can lead to a significant improvement in the polymer properties like tensile strength, elastic modulus, wear and scratch resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity, thermal and flammability resistance and impact strength [2,3,4,5]
The polymer-based nanocomposite presented in this work is high density polyethylene (HDPE) with the addition of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) at various weight percentages (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5 wt% GNSs)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Polymer-based nanocomposites of current academic interest are finding an increasing range of industrial applications, making them the most widely commercialised class of nanocomposites [1]. Achieving the uniform dispersion of the nanofillers is still an important scientific and technological challenge in nanocomposite fabrication Graphene nanosheets, with their outstanding thermal, electrical, optical, and mechanical properties as well as their low cost compared to carbon nanotubes can be a cost-effective alternative to carbon nanotubes and can be widely used for the fabrication of polymeric nanocomposites [16,17,18]. In this research, small quantities of graphene nanosheets (0.1-0.5 wt%) were incorporated with HDPE in a proper solvent, and the mechanical and thermal properties of the resultant nanocomposites were determined using various techniques. The polymer-based nanocomposite presented in this work is high density polyethylene (HDPE) with the addition of graphene nanosheets (GNSs) at various weight percentages (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5 wt% GNSs). Microhardness tests were performed using force of 100g for 5 seconds with sharp indenter (Vickers test), the indentation was repeated 5 times and average was taken

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Materials HDPE

CONCLUSION