Effect of interfacial interaction on rheological, electrically conductive, and electromagnetic shielding properties of polyethylene/GO composites

To regulate interfacial interaction between the polyethylene (PE) and graphene oxide (GO), maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene (PE‐ g ‐MAH) was utilized to enhance interfacial interaction between PE matrix and GO particles. Moreover, as a comparative investigation, γ‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) was used to functionalize GO ( f ‐GO) so as to improve the interfacial interaction between PE matrix and GO particles. Compared to the addition of the PE‐ g ‐MAH, the f ‐GO had better dispersion in the PE/ f ‐GO composites, indicating that functionalization of the GO with KH550 was the most effective way to improve the dispersion of the GO. However, the gel point for the PE/GO composite was not observed because the fillers network was not formed in the PE/GO composite. Compared to the f ‐GO particles, addition of PE‐ g ‐MAH was efficiency to build network structure of the GO particles so that the electrical conductivity of the PE/GO composites can be effectively improved. Moreover, the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of the PE/GO composites with addition of PE‐ g ‐MAH (PE/ M ‐GO) was consistently higher than that of the PE/ f ‐GO composites, indicating that the PE‐ g ‐MAH can effectively improve the EMI SE of the PE/GO composites. In addition, the microwave absorption (SE A ) was main shielding mechanism for the PE/ f ‐GO, PE/ M ‐GO, and PE/GO composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1774–1781, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers