Open AccessUnderstanding the electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of LDPE‐clay nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Mallayan Sundara,
Raja Prabhu Ramachandran,
Desai Belaguppa Manjunath Ashwin,
Velmurugan Ramachandran,
Sarathi Ramanujam,
Rao Burjupati Nageshwar
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2018.5702
Subject(s) - low density polyethylene , materials science , composite material , montmorillonite , nanocomposite , polyethylene , dynamic mechanical analysis , polymer
The performance of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) clay nanocomposites was analysed. The inclusion of nano montmorillonite (MMT) clay in LDPE material has significantly increased the contact angle, corona ageing resistance, water droplet initiated corona inception voltage and surface discharge inception voltage of the composites. The surface charge decay rate of the samples significantly reduced on the inclusion of clay indicating modified trap distribution characteristics due to the inclusion of the filler. Dynamical mechanical analysis indicates increased storage modulus and reduced tan ( δ ) due to nanofillers inclusion. Laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy indicates that on inclusion of nanofillers the plasma temperature increases and crater depth decreases. In particular, increased discharge resistance, improved thermomechanical properties are observed with LDPE–MMT clay composites compared to pure LDPE.