![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
New polyethylene matrix and alumina whiskers composites have been designed in order to combine the processability of common thermoplastics with improved physical properties. This work analyzes the influence of the composite formulation on the morphological, rheological and thermal properties of the new materials. Concerning rheological properties, a significant increase in viscosity and storage modulus is observed for high alumina whiskers content. Furthermore, the whiskers were functionalized with silane coupling agent in order to improve compatibility with the matrix. Two surface treatments were used for comparison purposes, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was applied for evaluating the chemical changes on the surface of whiskers. Pre-treatment with the silane coupling agent brought about beneficial changes in morphology and rheology, related with improved dispersion of whiskers and increased filler–matrix interface. Finally, the inclusion of only 5 wt.% filler, functionalized with 100 wt.% silane, increased the thermal stability of matrix around 37%.
References
| 1. | Milewski, JV, Katz, HS. Handbook of reinforcements for plastics, London: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co, 1987. Google Scholar |
| 2. | Potschke, P, Fornes, TD, Paul, DR. Rheological behaviour of multiwalled carbon nanotube/polycarbonate composites. Polymer 2002; 43: 3247–3255. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 3. | Jahani, Y . The effect of epoxy-polyester hybrid resin on mechanical properties, rheological behaviour, and water absorption of polypropylene wood flour composites. Polym Eng Sci 2007; 47: 2041–2048. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 4. | Stefani, PM, Cyras, V, Tejeira, A. Mechanical properties and thermal stability of rice husk ash filled epoxy foams. J Appl Polym Sci 2006; 99: 2957–2965. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 5. | Abboud, M, Turner, M, Duguet, E. Chemical modification and characterisation of ceramic particles. J Mater Chem 1997; 7: 1527–1532. Google Scholar | Crossref |
| 6. | Modak, S, Mandal, A, Chakrabarty, D. Studies on synthesis and characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)-bentonite clay composite by emulsion polymerization and simultaneous in situ clay incorporation. Polym Comp 2013; 34: 32–40. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 7. | Dobrzański, LA, Bilewicz, M, Viana, JC. Polymer nanocomposites reinforced with montmorillonite. Arch Mater Sci Eng 2012; 53: 5–28. Google Scholar |
| 8. | Valcárcel, V, Cerecedo, C, Guitián, F. Method for production of alpha-alumina whiskers via vapor-liquid-solid deposition. J Am Ceram Soc 2003; 86: 1683–1690. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 9. | Rong, MZ, Zhang, MQ, Shi, G. Graft polymer inorganic nanoparticles and its effect on tribological performance improvement of polymer composites. Tribol Int 2003; 36: 697–707. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 10. | Sawyer, WG, Freudenberg, KD, Bhimaraj, P. A study on the friction and wear behaviour of PTFE filled with alumina nanoparticles. Wear 2003; 254: 573–580. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 11. | Yan, L, Li, YS, Xiang, CB. Preparation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) ultrafiltration membrane modified by nano-sized alumina (Al2O3) and its antifouling research. Polymer 2005; 46: 7701–7706. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 12. | Jung, CH, Choi, JH, Lim, YM. Preparation and characterization of polypropylene nanocomposites containing polystyrene-grafted alumina nanoparticles. J Ind Eng Chem 2006; 12: 900–904. Google Scholar | ISI |
| 13. | Chen, JH, Rong, MZ, Ruan, WH. Interfacial enhancement of nano-SiO2/polypropylene composites. Compos Sci Technol 2009; 69: 252–259. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 14. | Rong, MZ, Ji, QL, Zhang, MQ. Graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto nanosized alumina particles. Eur Polym J 2002; 38: 1573–1582. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 15. | Lu, H, Hu, Y, Li, M. Structure characteristics and thermal properties of silane-grafted-polyethylene/clay nanocomposite prepared by reactive extrusion. Compos Sci Technol 2006; 66: 3035–3039. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 16. | Suhara, F, Kutty, SKN. Rheological properties of short polyester fiber-polyurethane elastomer composite with differene interfacial bonding agents. Polym-Plast Technol Eng 1998; 37: 57–70. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 17. | Takahashi, M, Hayashi, J, Suzuki, S. Improvement of the rheological properties of the zirconia/polypropylene system for ceramic injection moulding using coupling agents. J Mater Sci 1992; 27: 5297–5302. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 18. | Agrawal, P, Oliveira, SI, Araújo, E. Effect of different polypropylenes and compatibilizers on the rheological, mechanical and morphological properties of nylon 6/PP blends. J Mater Sci 2007; 42: 5007–5012. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 19. | Joseph, S, Menon, ARR, Aju, J. Melt rheology and extrudate morphology studies of polystyrene/polybutadiene blends in the presence and absence of compatibilisers. J Mater Sci 2007; 42: 2054–2063. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 20. | Filipe, S, Maia, J, Duarte, A. Influence of type of compatiblizer on rheological and mechanical behaviour of LCP/TP blends under different stationary and nonstationary shear conditions. J Appl Polym Sci 2005; 98: 694–703. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 21. | Wunderlich, B . Macromolecular physics 1980; Vol 3, New York: Academic Press. Google Scholar |
| 22. | Costa, TMH, Gallas, MR, Benvenutti, EV. Study of nanocrystalline gamma-Al2O3 produced by high-pressure compaction. J Phys Chem B 1999; 103: 4278–4284. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 23. | Sirisinha, K, Meksawat, D. Preparation and properties of metallocene ethylene copolymer crosslinked by vinyltrimethoxysilane. Polym Int 2005; 54: 1014–1020. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 24. | Maity, P, Kasisomayajula, SV, Parameswaran, V. Improvement in surface degradation properties of polymer composites due to pre-processed nanometric alumina fillers. IEEE Trans Dielectr Elect Insulat 2008; 15: 63–72. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 25. | Lozano, K, Bonilla, J, Barrera, EV. A study on nanofiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (II): investigation of the mixing rheology and conduction properties. J Appl Polym Sci 2001; 80: 1162–1172. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 26. | Marcovich, NE, Reboredo, MM, Kenny, J. Rheology of particle suspensions in viscoelastic media. Wood flour-polypropylene melt. Rheol Acta 2004; 43: 293–303. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 27. | Ares, A, Pardo, SG, Abad, MJ. Effect of aminomethoxysilane and olefin block copolymer on rheomechanical and morphological behaviour of fly ash-filled polypropylene composites. Rheol Acta 2010; 49: 607–618. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 28. | Hashmi, SAR, Sharma, P, Chand, N. Thermal and rheological behaviour of ultrafine fly ash filled LDPE composites. J Appl Polym Sci 2008; 107: 2196–2202. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 29. | Hornsby, PR, Mthupha, A. Rheological characterization of polypropylene filled with magnesium hydroxide. J Mater Sci 1994; 29: 5293–5301. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 30. | Ares, A, Bouza, R, Pardo, S. Rheological, mechanical and thermal behaviour of wood polymer composites based on recycled polypropylene. J Polym Environ 2010; 18: 318–325. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 31. | Pardo, SG, Bernal, C, Ares, A. Rheological, thermal and mechanical characterization of fly ash – thermoplastic composites with different coupling agents. Polym Compos 2010; 31: 1722–1730. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 32. | Bartczak, Z, Argon, AS, Cohen, RE. Toughness mechanism in semi-crystalline polymer blends: II. High-density polyethylene toughened with calcium carbonate filler particles. Polymer 1999; 40: 2347–2365. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
| 33. | Liu, C, Qiu, H, Liu, C. Study on crystal process and isothermal crystallization kinetics of UHMWPE/CA-MMT. Polym Compos 2012; 33: 1987–1992. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
