High Density Polyethylene/Libyan Kaolin Clay Nanocomposites: Effect of Clay Particle Size on Rheological, Surface and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

This research work focuses on the effect of Libyan Kaolin clay particle size on the reheological, surface and mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/clay nanocomposites. Three polymer clay nanocomposites (PCNs) using 2 wt.% clay with different particle size (< 75, 75-150 and 150-300 μm) and 2 wt.% polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) were prepared by melt processing method. The rheological (viscosity and melt flow rate), surface (wettability/hydrophilicity), and mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus, hardness and impact strength) were investigated. The obtained properties of PCNs were compared with HDPE. A better enhancement in the rheological properties properties was observed when clay particle size of < 75 µm was used. It was exhibited lower viscosity and higher MFR value, which provide better processing properties in comparison to HDPE and other PCNs. PCN with clay particle size of (75-150 µm) had more wettability and/or hydrophilicity than HDPE and other PCNs. Mechanical properties results showed significant improvement only in the impact properties as compared to HDPE. In short, PCN made with Libyan kaolin clay with particle size 75-150 μm appears to has comparatively better overall properties in comparison to other PCNs.

High-Density Polyethylene/Kaolin Clay Composites: Optimization of The In-jection Moulding Process Parameters Towards Minimum Shrinkage and Warpage

“…Our results showed that 2wt% kaolin clay added to HDPE enhanced its impact resistance up to 33% compared to virgin HDPE. Another study [27] showed the particle size of kaolin clay has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of HDPE composites. Clay particles sizes of 75-150 µm appear to have better overall properties compared to composites containing clay particles with sizes of <75 and > 150 µm.…”

Preparation of Polyethylene Clay Composites via Melt Intercalation Using Hydrophobic and Superhydrophobic Organoclays and Comparison of Their Textural, Mechanical and Thermal Properties

“…However, broader applications of these materials are limited by technological challenges related to low-cost improvement prospects [ 5 ]. Polymer clay nanocomposites (PNCs), which are among the most promising materials for a number of applications, have attracted the attention of scientists in recent years due to their superior thermal, mechanical, magnetic, optical, dielectric or electromagnetic and barrier properties compared to virgin polymers and traditional microcomposites [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Today, polymer clay nanocomposites are considered priority systems because clay has a high aspect ratio and a flat morphology [ 11 ].…”

“…Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) have shown an overwhelming rise in their usage in various military and defense sectors such as military medicine, sensing, smart structures and textiles, military weapons, power generation and management and aerodynamics [ 4 ] The broader applications of these materials are limited due to the technological difficulties that are related to the low-cost improvement expectations [ 5 ]. Polymer/clay nanocomposites (PNCs) constitute a new class of composite materials that have been studied in recent years due to their superior thermal, mechanical and barrier properties compared to virgin polymer or traditional microcomposites [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Currently, the PNC material is considered to be an encouraging system since the clay has a high aspect ratio and a platy morphology [ 11 ].…”