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Nanocomposites Prepared with High Density Polyethylene and Carbon Nanofibers Modified by Ethylene Plasma
Author(s) -
NeiraVelázquez María Guadalupe,
BorjasRamos José Javier,
HernándezHernández Ernesto,
HernándezRamos Claudia Guadalupe,
NarroCéspedes Rosa Idalia,
HernándezGámez José Francisco,
Ramos de Valle Luis Francisco
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201400065
Subject(s) - thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , high density polyethylene , nanocomposite , chemical engineering , carbon nanofiber , thermal stability , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , polyethylene , electrospinning , composite material , polymer chemistry , polymer , carbon nanotube , engineering
Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are surface‐modified by plasma polymerization using ethylene as monomer. The modified CNFs are suitable to be mixed with different polyethylenes. In this study, we mix them with high density polyethylene (HDPE). The plasma‐coated CNFs (pCNFs) are then characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in the transmission mode (STEM). Treated and untreated CNFs are evaluated in water, chloroform, and 1,2,3‐trichlorobenzene (TCB) to evaluate their effective dispersion in these three solvents. FTIR spectra showed signals corresponding to the organic part deposited on the surface of pCNFs. The TGA analysis makes it possible to confirm that pCNFs have a higher weight loss than CNFs because of the volatilization of the plasma polymerized ethylene coating. Dispersion tests showed that pCNFs dispersed well in TCB and chloroform solvents. To prepare nanocomposites, HDPE and CNFs are mixed well in a single‐screw extruder with an attached sonication chamber at its exit. Nanocomposites containing 1% and 3% by weight of CNFs are prepared. The products are analyzed by the Young's modulus and evaluated for thermal stability.