Performance characteristics of polyethylene/old corrugated container composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The physical, mechanical, thermal, and flammability properties of high-density polyethylene/old corrugated container composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes are presented in this study. High-density polyethylene/old corrugated container composites with different loadings of carbon nanotube (0, 1, 3, and 5 phc) were prepared by melt compounding followed by injection molding. Results indicated that the incorporation of carbon nanotube into high-density polyethylene, significantly improved the mechanical properties of the composites. The tensile and flexural properties achieved the maximum values when 3 phc carbon nanotube was added. Meanwhile, the impact strength of the composites progressively decreased with increasing carbon nanotube content. Furthermore, the water absorption and thickness swelling of the samples remarkably reduced with the addition of carbon nanotube. From thermogravimetric analysis data, the presence of carbon nanotube could enhance the thermal stability of the composites, especially the maximum weight loss rate temperature and also the better char residual was obtained at high loading level of carbon nanotube. Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry thermograms revealed that the thermal degradation temperatures for the samples with carbon nanotube were much higher than those made without carbon nanotube. Moreover, it was found that the addition of carbon nanotube results in a significant enhancement in flame retardancy of the composites. Morphological observations showed that the nanoparticles were predominantly dispersed uniformly within the high-density polyethylene matrix.