HDPE/Clay Nanocomposites by Continuous Sonication Process: Mechanical and Rheological Study

摘要

Layer-silicate based polymer nanocomposites have attracted considerable technological and scientific interest in recent years due to their changes in thermal1, rheological2, mechanical3 and physical4 properties of polymers. In general, the layer silicate is modified with alkylammonium, which is hydrophilic and this facilitates its interaction with the polymer. Polyethylene is one of the most widely used polymers which do not have any polar groups in its backbone, to interact with clay surface for dispersion. It was observed that long-chain polymer molecules can be ruptured by high intensity ultrasound during melt extrution5 leading to the formation of long chain radicals. In polymer clay systems, polymeric radicals may combine with the surface modifying agent of the clay forming a chemical bond. Another important aspect of the ultrasound assisted process was to facilitate break up and delamination layer silicate, which is essential for the nanoscale dispersion of clays during melt mixing with the polymer matrix in batch mixer6 and extruder7. In this paper, we have studied the effect of continuous supply of ultrasonic energy during the melt intercalation of HDPE/clay nanocomposites. Mechanical, rheological and crystallization behavior of the obtained nanocomposites are studied.