The Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High Molecular Polyethylene/Montmorillonite Clay (UHMWPE/MMT) Nanocomposites Using Gel and Pressure-Induced Flow Process (PIF)

Abstract

This paper examines hybrid organic-inorganic polymer nanocomposites incorporating organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). UHMWPE/MMT hybrid nanocomposites were prepared using gel and pressure-induced flow (PIF) processing methods at a gel concentration of 8 wt.% UHMWPE with various organoclay contents (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 pphr). The interlayer properties of the nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal and mechanical interfacial properties of the nanocomposites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and the use of a universal test machine (UTM). XRD and TWM indicated that the nanocomposites were formed upon dispersion of MMT in the polymer matrix. From the DSC, TGA and DMA results, we found that the thermal stability of the UHMWPE nanocomposites increased as the MMT content increased. The nanocomposites showed higher tensile strengths than those of pure UHMWPE gel sheet. These findings indicate that the interfacial and mechanical properties were improved by the addition of MMT and PIF processing.