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Foams based on low density polyethylene/hectorite nanocomposites: Thermal stability and thermo‐mechanical properties
Author(s) -
Velasco J. I.,
Antunes M.,
Ayyad O.,
SaizArroyo C.,
RodríguezPérez M. A.,
Hidalgo F.,
de Saja J. A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.26254
Subject(s) - hectorite , materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , nanocomposite , thermal stability , composite material , differential scanning calorimetry , compression molding , exfoliation joint , polyethylene , high density polyethylene , chemical engineering , montmorillonite , graphene , nanotechnology , mold , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Novel polymer nanocomposite foams made by a two step compression molding method are analyzed in this article. Nanocomposites of low density polyethylene and an organo‐modified hectorite were first melt compounded and then foamed using a compression molding method. To study the influence of the presence and the amount of hectorite in both mechanical and thermal properties, samples with 3% and 7% content of hectorite were prepared. Polyethylene crystalline characteristics and thermal stability of the samples were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Mechanical properties of foams and solid nanocomposites were analyzed by using dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA). Thermal expansion of the samples was analyzed by thermomechanical analysis. The results indicate that the exfoliation of hectorite platelets was achieved after the foaming process, but not during the melt mixing step. Foams with hectorite nanoparticles exhibit improved thermal stability and mechanical properties when compared with neat polymeric foams. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007