Rheology, processing, tensile properties and crystallization of polyethylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites

A nanocomposite sample was prepared by melt mixing a high density polyethylene (HDPE) with an in situ polymerized HDPE/multi wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) masterbatch. The nanocomposite had an approximate content of 0.52 wt % MWNT. Rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties were investigated for both neat HDPE and nanocomposite. The nanocomposite, when compared to the neat polymer, exhibits lower values of viscosity, shear modulus and shear stress in extrusion and a concurrent delay of the distortion regimes to higher shear stresses and rates. The nanocomposite presents also improved dimensional stability after processing, and lower values of the melt strength, draw ratio and viscosity in elongational flow. This behavior has been observed in composites in which an adsorption of a fraction (that with the highest molecular weight or relaxation time) of the polymer chains is considered. Furthermore, the enhancement in the crystallization kinetics, probed by rheometry and DSC, suggests that the carbon nanotubes act as nucleating agents for the polymeric chains. Additionally, the presence of adsorbed chains does not only influence the molten state but also induces interesting effects in the mechanical properties of the polymer. As a result, an increase of up to 100% in elastic modulus was observed in the HDPE/MWNT nanocomposite without losing the ductility present in neat HDPE.