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Effect of carbon nanotube addition on structure and properties for extrudates of high‐density polyethylene
Author(s) -
Nishikawa Riho,
Yamaguchi Masayuki
Publication year - 2019
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.48010
Subject(s) - high density polyethylene , materials science , crystallization , carbon nanotube , polyethylene , composite material , differential scanning calorimetry , rheometer , melt flow index , extrusion , modulus , polymer chemistry , rheology , chemical engineering , polymer , copolymer , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
We investigated the structure and properties of strands of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), containing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) extruded from a capillary rheometer. Surprisingly, we found that the MWCNTs enhanced the chain orientation of HDPE, and that in the absence of MWCNTs, orientation relaxation occurred in the HDPE immediately after passing through the die. Conventional differential scanning calorimetry measurements indicated that MWCNT acts as a nucleating agent and raises the crystallization temperature 2–4 °C under quiescent condition. In the flow field, oriented MWCNTs behave like polymeric chain extended crystals “shish” and greatly accelerate the flow‐induced crystallization of the HDPE “kebab.” Consequently, the modulus was significantly increased in the flow direction. These findings demonstrate that the addition of MWCNTs is an effective method of enhancing the rigidity of HDPE. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 48010.