Abstract
A linear low density polyethylene matrix was melt compounded with a given amount (2 vol.%) of both untreated (hydrophilic) and surface treated (hydrophobic) fumed silica nanoparticles with the aim to investigate the influence of the time under processing conditions on the microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties of the resulting materials. Crosslinking reactions induced by thermal processing caused a remarkable increase of the melt viscosity, as revealed by the melt flow index values of both neat matrix and nanocomposites. Thermal oxidation of the matrix was slightly reduced by the introduction of fumed silica nanoparticles, especially for long compounding times. Differential scanning calorimetry evidenced how silica nanoparticles had a nucleating effect on the matrix, while both the melting temperature and the relative crystallinity were decreased by the compounding process. Nanosilica addition promoted a general improvement of the tensile properties, that progressively decreased with the processing time.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bondioli F, Dorigato A, Fabbri P, Messori M, Pegoretti A (2008) High-density polyethylene reinforced with submicron titania particles. Polym Eng Sci 48:448–457
Bondioli F, Dorigato A, Fabbri P, Messori M, Pegoretti A (2009) Improving the creep stability of high-density polyethylene with acicular titania nanoparticles. J Appl Polym Sci 112:1045–1055
Kim JK, Hu C, Woo RSC, Sham ML (2005) Moisture barrier characteristics of organoclay–epoxy nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol 65:805–813
Kontou E, Niaounakis M (2006) Thermo-mechanical properties of lldpe/sio2 nanocomposites. Polymer 47:1267–1280
Pegoretti A, Dorigato A, Penati A (2007) Tensile mechanical response of polyethylene – clay nanocomposites. Expr Pol Lett 1(3):123–131
Pegoretti A, Dorigato A, Penati A (2008) Contact angle measurements as a tool to investigate the filer-matrix interactions in polyurethane-clay nanocomposites from blocked prepolymer. Eur Polym J 44:1662–1672
Dimitry OIH, Abdeen ZI, Ismail EA, Saad ALG (2010) Preparation and properties of elastomeric polyurethane/organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites. J Polym Res 17:801–813
Zhang J, Jiang DD, Wilkie CA (2005) Fire properties of styrenic polymer–clay nanocomposites based on oligomerically-modified clay. Polym Degrad Stab 91:358–366
Kojima Y, Usuki A, Kawasumi M, Kojima Y, Fukushima Y, Okada A (1993) Mechanical properties of nylon 6 – clay hybrid. J Mater Res 8:1185–1189
Supova M, Martynkova GS, Barabaszova K (2011) Effect of nanofillers dispersion in polymer matrices: a review. Sci Adv Mater 3:1–25
Malpass DB (2010) Introduction to industrial polyethylene. Co-published by John Wiley & Sons and Scrivener Publishing LCC, Salem
Dorigato A, Pegoretti A, Kolarik J (2010) Nonlinear tensile creep of linear low density polyethylene/fumed silica nanocomposites: time-strain superposition and creep prediction. Polym Compos 31:1947–1955
Gilman JW (1999) Flammability and thermal stability studies of polymer layered-silicate (clay) nanocomposites. Appl Clay Sci 15(1–2):31–49
Kiliaris P, Papaspyrides CD (2010) Polymer/layered silicate (clay) nanocomposites: an overview of flame retardancy. Prog Polym Sci 35:902–958
Costantino U, Gallipoli A, Nocchetti M, Camino G, Bellucci F, Frache A (2005) New nano-composites constituted of polyethylene and organically modified znal-hydrotalcites. Polym Degrad Stab 90:586–590
Costantino U, Montanari F, Nocchetti M, Canepa F, Frache A (2007) Preparation and characterization of hydrotalcite/carboxy-adamantane intercalation compounds as fillers of polymeric nanocomposites. J Mater Chem 17:1079–1086
Lu H, Hu Y, Xiao J, Kong Q, Chen Z, Fan W (2005) The influence of irradiation on morphology evolution and flammability properties of maleated polyethylene/clay nanocomposite. Mater Lett 59:648–651
Dorigato A, Pegoretti A, Penati A (2010) Linear low-density polyethylene/silica micro- and nanocomposites: dynamic rheological measurements and modelling. Expr Pol Lett 4(2):115–129
Dorigato A, Fambri L, Pegoretti A, Slouf M, Kolarik J (2011) Cycloolefin copolymer (coc)/fumed silica nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci 119:3393–3402
Dorigato A, Pegoretti A (2010) Tensile creep behaviour of polymethylpentene/silica nanocomposites. Polym Int 59:719–724
Chrissafis K, Paraskevopoulos KM, Pavlidou E, Bikiaris D (2009) Thermal degradation mechanism of hdpe nanocomposites containing fumed silica nanoparticles. Thermochim Acta 485:65–71
Barus S, Zanetti M, Lazzari M, Costa L (2009) Preparation of polymeric hybrid nanocomposites based on pe and nanosilica. Polymer 50:2595–2600
Dorigato A, Pegoretti A, Frache A (2012) Thermal stability of high density polyethylene–fumed silica nanocomposites. J Therm Anal Calorim 109:863–873
Thompson MR, Yeung KK (2006) Recyclability of a layered silicate-thermoplastic olefin elastomer nanocomposite. Polym Degrad Stab 91(10):2396–2407
Chow WS (2008) Cyclic extrusion of poly(butylene terephthalate)/organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites: thermal and mechanical retention properties. J Appl Polym Sci 110:1642–1648
Goitisolo I, Equiazabal JI, Nazabal J (2008) Effects of reprocessing on the structure and properties of polyamide 6 nanocomposites. Polym Degrad Stab 93:1747–1752
Karahaliou EK, Tarantili PA (2009) Preparation of poly(acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene)/montmorillonite nanocomposites and degradation studies during extrusion reprocessing. J Appl Polym Sci 113:2271–2281
Touati N, Kaci M, Bruzaud S, Grohens Y (2011) The effects of reprocessing cycles on the structure and properties of isotactic polypropylene/cloisite 15a nanocomposites. Polym Degrad Stab 96(6):1064–1073
Kaci M, Remili C, Benhamida A, Bruzaud S, Grohens Y (2012) Recyclability of polystyrene/clay nanocomposites. Mol Cryst Liq Cryst 556:94–106
Dorigato A, D’Amato M, Pegoretti A (2012) Thermo-mechanical properties of high density polyethylene—fumed silica nanocomposites: effect of filler surface area and treatment. J Polym Res 19:9889–9899
Dorigato A, Pegoretti A (2012) Fracture behaviour of linear low density polyethylene – fumed silica composites. Eng Fract Mech 79(1):213–224
Mark HF (2004) Encyclopedia of polymer science and technology, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York
Gupta RK (2000) Polymer and composite rheology. Dekker, New York
Barabas K, Iring M, Kelen T (1976) Study of the thermal oxidation of polyolefins. V. Volatile products in the thermal oxidation of polyethylene. J Polym Sci 57:65–71
Bikiaris D, Prinos J, Panayiotou C (1997) Effect of eaa and starch on the thermooxidative degradation of ldpe. Polym Degrad Stab 56:1–9
Bikiaris D, Prinos J, Perrier C, Panayiotou C (1997) Thermoanalytical study of the effect of eaa and starch on the thermo-oxidative degradation of ldpe. Polym Degrad Stab 57:313–324
Eriksson E, Johansson E, Kettaneh-Wold N (2001) Multi- and megavariate data analysis principles and applications. Umetrics Academy, New York
Holmstrom A, Sorvik E (1970) Thermal degradation of polyethylene in a nitrogen atmosphere of low oxygen content: I. Changes in molecular weight distribution. J Chromatogr 53:95–108
Gugumus F (2000) Physico-chemical aspects of polyethylene processing in an open mixer6. Discussion of hydroperoxide formation and decomposition. Polym Degrad Stab 68:337–352
Ajayan PM, Schadler LS (2003) Nanocomposite science and technology. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
Naveau E, Dominkovics Z, Detrembleur C, Jerome C, Harim J, Renner K, Alexandre M, Pukanszky B (2011) Effect of clay modification on the structure and mechanical properties of polyamide-6 nanocomposites. Eur Polym J 47(1):5–15
Silverstein RM, Bussler GC, Morril TC (1981) Spectroscopic identification of of organic compounds. Wiley, New York
Jing X, Chen E, Me E (1992) Applied directory of infrared-photoacustic spectroscopy. Tjanjin Science and Technology Press, Tjanjin
Holmstrom A, Sorvik E (1974) Thermal degradation of polyethylene in a nitrogen atmosphere of low oxygen content. Iii. Structural changes occurring in low-density polyethylene at oxygen contents below 1.2 %. J Appl Polym Sci 18:3153–3158
Holmstrom A, Sorvik EM (1978) Thermooxidative degradation of polyethylene. I and ii. Structural changes occurring in low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and tetratetracontane heated in air. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 16:2555–2586
La Mantia FP, Dintcheva NT, Scaffaro R, Marino R (2008) Morphology and properties of polyethylene/clay nanocomposite drawn fibers. Macromol Mater Eng 293:83–91
Ruan S, Gao P, Yu TX (2006) Ultra-strong gel-spun uhmwpe fibers reinforced using multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Polymer 47:1604–1611
Zhang Y, Yu J, Zhou C, Chen L, Hu Z (2010) Preparation, morphology, and adhesive and mechanical properties of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene/sio2 nanocomposite fibers. Polym Compos 31:684–690
Dorigato A, Dzenis Y, Pegoretti A (2012) On the reinforcement mechanism in particulate nanocomposites. Mech Mater (in press)
Dorigato A, Dzenis Y, Pegoretti A (2011) Nanofiller aggregation as reinforcing mechanism in nanocomposites. Procedia Eng 10:894–899
Acknowledgments
Mr. Umberto Saccoman is gratefully acknowledged for his valuable support to the experimental work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dorigato, A., Pegoretti, A. (Re)processing effects on linear low-density polyethylene/silica nanocomposites. J Polym Res 20, 92 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0092-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0092-x