Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Polymer chain conformations in hybrid composites of UHMWPE incorporated by GNP/MWCNT

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymer Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A great many of important physical/chemical properties, containing thermal behavior and dynamic properties, are determined by polymer chain conformations. However, the cognition of how nanofillers impact polymer chains is still immature, especially for ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with extremely long molecular chains. Hence, cylindrical multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and lamellar graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) are applied to modify so as to investigate the effect of nanomaterials on UHMWPE chain conformations. The results of dynamic mechanical analysis authenticate that the less nanomaterials incorporated in UHMWPE enable to reduce the density of physical entanglement points, especially for the samples modified by GNP and MWCNT at the same time. Meanwhile, GNP and MWCNT added together in samples may also form a continuous structure, surrounding the UHMWPE molecular chains, and thus blocking the movement of the molecular chain. The reduction of physical entanglement points is beneficial to obtain a lower melting temperature, a higher crystallization temperature and an intenser molecular chains movement for UHMWPE composites. Compared with neat UHMWPE, the optimal performance of storage and loss modulus for UHMWPE/GNP/MWCNT composites is magnified by 169.33% and 100.01% respectively at 60 ℃, but both of them are much smaller than those of pure UHMWPE at higher than 140 ℃.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Wang HD, Yan X, Tang X, Ma YL, Fan XQ, Li W, Yu W, Wang JD, Yang YR (2022) Contribution of the Initially Entangled State and Particle Size to the Sintering Kinetics of UHMWPE. Macromolecules 55(4):1310–1320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang R, Tian J, Wu YH, Chou WM, Yang JY, Xue P (2021) An investigation on shape memory behaviors of UHMWPE-based nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets. Polym Test 99

  3. He X, Wang Y, Wang Q, Tang Y, Liu B (2016) Effects of Addition of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene on Tie-Molecule and Crystallization Behavior of Unimodal PE-100 Pipe Materials. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part B 55(10):1007–1021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Pi L, Hu X, Nie M, Wang Q (2014) Role of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene during Rotation Extrusion of Polyethylene Pipe. Ind Eng Chem Res 53(35):13828–13832

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Riveiro A, Soto R, del Val J, Comesaña R, Boutinguiza M, Quintero F, Lusquiños F, Pou J (2014) Laser surface modification of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for biomedical applications. Appl Surf Sci 302:236–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Souza VC, Oliveira JE, Lima SJG, Silva LB (2014) Influence of Vitamin C on Morphological and Thermal Behaviour of Biomedical UHMWPE. Macromol Symp 344(1):8–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Takahashi Y, Shishido T, Yamamoto K, Masaoka T, Kubo K, Tateiwa T, Pezzotti G (2015) Mechanisms of plastic deformation in highly cross-linked UHMWPE for total hip components–the molecular physics viewpoint. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 42:43–53

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang F, Liu LC, Xue P, Jia MY, Sun H (2018) A Study of the Mechanical Behavior and Crystal Structure of UHMWPE/HDPE Blend Fibers Prepared by Melt Spinning. J Eng Fiber Fabr 13(3):23–36

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wang XC, Zhang LP, Liu M, Zhang JF, Zhao GL (2021) Preparation and Properties of a Modified Fe2O3 Pigment for Dope Dyeing Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Fibers by Melt Spinning. Fibers and Polymers 22(12):3343–3350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Liu K, Ronca S, Andablo-Reyes E, Forte G, Rastogi S (2014) Unique Rheological Response of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylenes in the Presence of Reduced Graphene Oxide. Macromolecules 48(1):131–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Deplancke T, Lame O, Rousset F, Aguili I, Seguela R, Vigier G (2013) Diffusion versus Cocrystallization of Very Long Polymer Chains at Interfaces: Experimental Study of Sintering of UHMWPE Nascent Powder. Macromolecules 47(1):197–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Deplancke T, Lame O, Rousset F, Seguela R, Vigier G (2015) Mechanisms of Chain Reentanglement during the Sintering of UHMWPE Nascent Powder: Effect of Molecular Weight. Macromolecules 48(15):5328–5338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Salari M, Pircheraghi G (2018) Interdiffusion versus crystallization at semicrystalline interfaces of sintered porous materials. Polymer 156:54–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. de Gennes PG (1971) Reptation of a Polymer Chain in the Presence of Fixed Obstacles. J Chem Phys 55(2):572–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Doi M (1986) Edwards S F. Oxford Science Publications, Oxford, U.K, The theory of polymer dynamics

    Google Scholar 

  16. Barham PJ, Sadler DM (1991) A neutron scattering study of the melting behaviour of polyethylene single crystals. Polymer 32(3):393–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bastiaansen C, Meyer H, Lemstra P (1990) Memory effects in polyethylenes: influence of processing and crystallization history. Polymer 31(8):1435–1440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Xue YQ, Tervoort TA, Lemstra PJ (1998) Welding Behavior of Semicrystalline Polymers. 1. The Effect of Nonequilibrium Chain Conformations on Autoadhesion of UHMWPE. Macromolecules 31(9):3075–3080

  19. GDGP (1995) Explosion à la fusion. Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences. Série II, Mécanique, physique, chimie, astronomie. 321(9):363–365

  20. Rastogi S, Lippits DR, Peters GW, Graf R, Yao Y, Spiess HW (2005) Heterogeneity in polymer melts from melting of polymer crystals. Nat Mater 4(8):635–641

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hosseinnezhad R, Talebi S, Rezaei M (2016) The unique effect of chain entanglements and particle morphology on the sintering of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. J Elastomers Plast 49(7):609–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Chammingkwan P, Bando Y, Mai LTT, Wada T, Thakur A, Terano M, Sinthusai L, Taniike T (2021) Less Entangled Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Produced by Nano-Dispersed Ziegler-Natta Catalyst. Ind Eng Chem Res 60(7):2818–2827

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Chen M, Chen Y, Li W, Liang P, Ren C, Jiang B, Wang J, Yang Y (2021) Synthesis of Weakly Entangled Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene with a Fine Particle Size. Ind Eng Chem Res 60(8):3354–3362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Romano D, Tops N, Andablo-Reyes E, Ronca S, Rastogi S (2014) Influence of Polymerization Conditions on Melting Kinetics of Low Entangled UHMWPE and Its Implications on Mechanical Properties. Macromolecules 47(14):4750–4760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wencke YL, Luinstra GA, Duchateau R, Proes F, Imgrund P, Evenson JS, Emmelmann C (2022) Disentangled UHMWPE@silica powders for potential use in power bed fusion based additive manufacturing. Eur Polym J 163:110936–110947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Yue Z, Wang N, Cao Y, Li W, Dong CD (2020) Reduced Entanglement Density of Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Favored by the Isolated Immobilization on the MgCl2 (110) Plane. Ind Eng Chem Res 59(8):3351–3358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Liu K, de Boer EL, Yao Y, Romano D, Ronca S, Rastogi S (2016) Heterogeneous Distribution of Entanglements in a Nonequilibrium Polymer Melt of UHMWPE: Influence on Crystallization without and with Graphene Oxide. Macromolecules 49(19):7497–7509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang R, Yan WQ, Yang Q, Chen XN, Chen K, Ding Y, Xue P (2022) Analysis of thermal-active bending and cyclic tensile shape memory mechanism of UHMWPE/CNT composite. Polym Composite

  29. Zhang Q, Archer LA (2002) Poly(ethylene oxide)/silica nanocomposites: Structure and rheology. Langmuir 18(26):10435–10442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang X, Zhao SC, Xin Z (2020) The chain dis-entanglement effect of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Polymer 202:122631

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Tung WS, Bird V, Composto RJ, Clarke N, Winey KI (2013) Polymer Chain Conformations in CNT/PS Nanocomposites from Small Angle Neutron Scattering. Macromolecules 46(13):5345–5354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Nakatani AI, Chen W, Schmidt RG, Gordon GV, Han CC (2002) Chain dimensions in polysilicate-filled poly(dimethyl siloxane). Int J Thermophys 23(1):199–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Tuteja A, Duxbury PM, Mackay ME (2008) Polymer chain swelling induced by dispersed nanoparticles. Phys Rev Lett 100(7):077801

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Jouault N, Dalmas F, Said S, Di Cola E, Schweins R, Jestin J, Boué F (2010) Direct Measurement of Polymer Chain Conformation in Well-Controlled Model Nanocomposites by Combining SANS and SAXS. Macromolecules 43(23):9881–9891

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Weir MP, Johnson DW, Boothroyd SC, Savage RC, Thompson RL, King SM, Rogers SE, Coleman KS, Clarke N (2016) Distortion of Chain Conformation and Reduced Entanglement in Polymer-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites. ACS Macro Lett 5(4):430–434

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang R, Wang SW, Tian J, Chen K, Xue P, Wu YH, Chou WM (2020) Effect of PEW and CS on the Thermal, Mechanical, and Shape Memory Properties of UHMWPE. Polymers (Basel) 12(2):483–498

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Yang HQ, Hui L, Zhang JJ, Chen P, Li W (2017) Effect of entangled state of nascent UHMWPE on structural and mechanical properties of HDPE/UHMWPE blends. J Appl Polym Sci 134(16):44728–44736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Zhang R, Yang Q, Liu MF, Chen XN, Xue P (2022) Thermal actuation shape memory of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with molecular orientation. Mater Lett 325:132813–132817

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Alam F, Choosri M, Gupta TK, Varadarajan KM, Choi D, Kumar S (2019) Electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced UHMWPE nanocomposites. Mater Sci Eng, B 241:82–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Kaloshkin S, Maksimkin A, Kaloshkina M, Zadorozhnyy M, Churyukanova M (2012) Shape Memory Behavior of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. MRS Proc 1403:91–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lippits DR, Rastogi S, Hohne GW (2006) Melting kinetics in polymers. Phys Rev Lett 96(21):218303

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Liu C, Qiu HT, Liu CJ, Zhang J (2012) Study on crystal process and isothermal crystallization kinetics of UHMWPE/CA-MMT composites. Polym Composite 33(11):1987–1992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Weeks JJ (1963) Melting Temperature and Change of Lamellar Thickness with Time for Bulk Polyethylene. J Res Natl Bur Stand A Phys Chem 67A(5):441–451

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Wu Z, Zhang Z, Mai K (2019) Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of UHMWPE composites filled by oligomer-modified CaCO3. J Therm Anal Calorim 139(2):1111–1120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Cheng J, Yang X, Dong L, Yuan Z, Wang W, Wu S, Chen S, Zheng G, Zhang W, Zhang D, Wang H (2017) Effective nondestructive evaluations on UHMWPE/Recycled-PA6 blends using FTIR imaging and dynamic mechanical analysis. Polym Test 59:371–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Menard KP, Menard NR (2020) Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, 3 ed., CRC Press

  47. Xie MJ, Li HL (2007) Viscosity reduction and disentanglement in ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene melt: Effect of blending with polypropylene and poly(ethylene glycol). Eur Polym J 43(8):3480–3487

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Reinitz SD, Carlson EM, Levine RAC, Franklin KJ, Van Citters DW (2015) Dynamical mechanical analysis as an assay of cross-link density of orthopaedic ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. Polym Test 45:174–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Chen T, Li Q, Fu Z, Sun L, Guo W, Wu C (2017) The shape memory effect of crosslinked ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene prepared by silane-induced crosslinking method. Polym Bull 75(5):2181–2196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. da Silva Chagas NP, de Oliveira Aguiar V, da Costa Garcia Filho F et al (2022) Ballistic performance of boron carbide nanoparticles reinforced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). J Mater Res Technol 17:1799–1811

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Analysis and Test center of Beijing University of Chemical Technology.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China

    Chenchao Fu, Run Zhang, Qun Yang & Ping Xue

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10084, China

    Jing Tian

  3. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China

    Xiaonong Chen

Authors
  1. Chenchao Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Run Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jing Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qun Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ping Xue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiaonong Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Chenchao Fu: Conceptualization, Data curation, Writing- Original draft preparation, Writing-Reviewing and Editing. Run Zhang: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Supervision, Validation. Jing Tian: Visualization, Validation. Qun Yang: Visualization, Validation. Ping Xue: Supervision, Visualization, Validation. Xiaonong Chen: Visualization, Validation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Run Zhang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fu, C., Zhang, R., Tian, J. et al. Polymer chain conformations in hybrid composites of UHMWPE incorporated by GNP/MWCNT. J Polym Res 30, 245 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-023-03629-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-023-03629-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation