Solid‐State Processing of Nascent Disentangled UHMWPE Reactor Powders Mixed with Carbon Nanoparticles

Abstract

Aspects of solid‐state processing of nascent disentangled ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) powders of different syntheses mixed with electrically conductive carbon nanoparticles (NPs) of various types are studied. Effect of multiple parameters of the processing procedures on the electrophysical characteristics of the composite samples is investigated. Such parameters include time of preliminary ultrasonication (US) of NPs, time of US of UHMWPE/NPs mixtures, molding time, temperature, and pressure, deformation degree, etc. It is observed that by selecting optimal values of such parameters it is possible to obtain samples of composites with an extremely segregated structure made of the NPs, with NPs distributed evenly on the surfaces of the compacted UHMWPE powder particles. This ensures high levels of conductivity at very low values of NPs content. The segregated structure is retained when the composites are strengthened using the solid‐state uniaxial shear deformation process. While conductivity of most of the composites filled with various types of NPs monotonously decreases with the deformation ratio, conductivity of the composites filled with exceptionally long double‐walled carbon nanotubes is maintained. The processed oriented composites are also characterized by high EMR shielding properties, as well as interesting temperature dependencies of the electrical conductivity.