The influence of carbon nano fiber (CNF) along with organically modified nanoclay (OMMT) on the final properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) hybrid nanocomposites has been investigated. The hybridized nanocomposites were prepared in a twin screw extruder by melt mixing to achieve better dispersion. The effect of nano fillers on the mechanical, thermal, rheological, and morphological properties has been reported. The incorporation of OMMT along with CNF slightly improved the mechanical properties of the resultant hybrid nanocomposite due to the good adhesion between the filler and matrix. On the other hand, as shown in DSC results, increasing reinforcing filler quantity has no significant influence on the thermal properties such as melting and crystallization temperatures. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results have shown that increasing filler content in the hybrid nanocomposite matrix has enhanced drastically the thermal stability of the neat HDPE. Similarly, the rheological behavior of the hybrid system showed significant increase in the viscosity due to the synergetic effect. A marginal increase in moduli and complex viscosity was observed in the hybrid system, while loss tangent was found to be decreased due to the increase in the stiffness. The morphological features of nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanoscale images showed the well dispersion of filler nanoparticles without any prominent aggregation, which further indicates the compatibilizing ability of nanofillers within the HDPE matrix.
CiccoDDAsaeeZTaheriF. Use of nanoparticles for enhancing the interlaminar properties of fibre-reinforced composites and adhesively bonded joints-a review. Nanomaterials2017; 7: 360.
2.
HeF-AZhangL-M. Preparation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/high density polyethylene composites with enhanced properties by using a master batch method. Polym Polym Compos2021; 29: S644–S654.
3.
LiYZhuJWeiS, et al.Poly(propylene) nanocomposites containing various carbon nanostructures. Macromol Chem Phys2011; 212: 2429–2438.
4.
KausarARafiqueIMuhammadB. Aerospace application of polymer nanocomposite with carbon nanotube, graphite, graphene oxide and. Nanoclay Polym Plast Technol Eng2017; 56: 1438–1456.
5.
BorovanskaIKotsilkovaRPradasMM, et al.Thermal, mechanical and viscoelastic properties of compatibilized polypropylene/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites. J Elastomers Plast2016; 48: 576–599.
6.
TsioptsiasCLeontiadisKTzimpilisE, et al.Polypropylene nanocomposite fibers: a review of current trends and new developments. J Plast Film Sheeting2021; 37: 283–311.
7.
TripathiSNSrinivasaraoGSMathurbAB, et al.Polyolefin/graphene nanocomposites: a review. RSC Adv2017; 7: 23615–23632.
8.
GuoFAryanaSHanY, et al.A review of the synthesis and applications of polymer–nanoclay composites. Appl Sci2018, 8, 1696.
9.
HeidarianJHassanA. Characterization and comparison of fluoroelastomer unfilled, filled with carbon nanotube (unmodified, acid or base surface modified) and carbon black using TGA-GCMS. J Elastomers Plast2021; 53: 861–885.
10.
HuLLeclairΈPoulinM, et al.Clay/polyethylene composites with enhanced barrier properties for seed storage. Polym Polym Compos2016; 24: 387–394.
11.
DhibarAKKimJKKhatuaBBCocontinuous phase morphology of asymmetric compositions of polypropylene/high-density polyethylene blend by the addition of clay. J Appl Polym Sci2011, 119, 3080–3092.
12.
KawasumiMHasegawaNKatoM, et al.Preparation and mechanical properties of Polypropylene−Clay hybrids. Macromolecules1997; 30: 6333.
13.
HapuarachchiTDBilottiEReynoldsCT, et al.The synergistic performance of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and sepiolite nanoclays as flame retardants for unsaturated polyester. Fire Mater2010; 35: 157.
14.
KashiwagiTDuFMDouglasJF, et al.Nanoparticle networks reduce the flammability of polymer nanocomposites. Nat Mater2005; 4: 928.
15.
Al-SalehMAYussufAAAl-EneziS, et al.Polypropylene/graphene nanocomposites: effects of GNP loading and compatibilizers on the mechanical and thermal properties. Materials2019; 12: 3924.
16.
KangIHeungYYKimJH, et al.Introduction to carbon nanotube and nanofiber smart materials. Composites Part B2006; 37: 382–394.
17.
TibbettsGGLakeMLStrongKL, et al.A review of the fabrication and properties of vapor-grown carbon nanofiber/polymer composites. Compos Sci Technol2007; 67: 1709–1718.
18.
MinCShenXShiZ, et al.The electrical properties and conducting mechanisms of carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposites: a review. Polym Plast Technol Eng2010; 49: 1172–1181.
19.
ChigumaWEJJohnsonEPachamuthuA, et al.Electrically and thermally conducting nanocomposites for electronic applications. Materials2010; 3: 1478–1496.
20.
SamuelJAl-EneziSAl-BannaA, et al.Homogeneously dispersed carbon nanofiber/high-density polyethylene nanocomposite compatibilized by dilakylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. J Nanomater2019; 2019: 1–16.
21.
Al-SalehMHSundararajU. A review of vapor grown carbon nanofiber/polymer conductive composites. Carbon2009; 47: 2–22.
22.
SamuelJAl-EneziSAl-BannaA, et al.Effect of compatibilising agents on the morphological, thermal and rheological properties of high density polyethylene/carbon nano fiber composites. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Materials2022; 61: 1–12.
23.
GeorgakilasVKordatosKPratoM, et al.Organic functionalization of carbon nanotubes. J Am Chem Soc2002; 124: 760.
24.
HasegawaNOkamotoHKatoM, et al.Preparation and mechanical properties of polypropylene–clay hybrids based on modified polypropylene and organophilic clay. J Appl Polym Sci2000; 78: 1918–1922.
25.
LiHChengFDuftAM, et al.Functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes with well-defined polystyrene by “click” coupling. J Am Chem Soc2005; 127: 14518–14524.
26.
RiggsJEGuoZXCarrollDL, et al.Strong luminescence of solubilized carbon nanotubes. J Am Chem Soc2000; 122: 5879.
27.
YangBXPramodaKPXuGQ, et al.Mechanical reinforcement of polyethylene using polyethylene-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Adv Funct Mater2007; 17: 2062.
28.
PrashanthaKSoulestinJLacrampeMF, et al.Multi-walled carbon nanotube filled polypropylene nanocomposites based on masterbatch route: improvement of dispersion and mechanical properties through PP-g-MA addition. Express Polym Lett2008; 2: 735–745.
29.
PalzaH. Modifying the electrical behaviour of polypropylene/carbon nanotube composites by adding a second nanoparticle and by annealing processes. Express Polym Lett2012; 6: 639–646.
30.
BaoSPLiangGDTjongSC. Positive temperature coefficient effect of polypropylene/carbon nanotube/montmorillonite hybrid nanocomposites. IEEE Trans Nanotechnol2009; 8: 729–736.
31.
PrashanthaKSoulestinJLacrampeMF, et al.Processing and characterization of polypropylene filled with multi-walled carbon nanotube and clay hybrid nanocomposites. Int J Polym Anal Char2014; 19: 363–371.
32.
PaszkiewiczSPypecKIrskaI, et al.Functional polymer hybrid nanocomposites based on polyolefins: a review. Processes2020; 8: 1475.
33.
AliMMEArsadAGulrezSKH, et al.Enhanced dispersion of carbon nanotubes in high density polyethylene matrix using secondary nanofiller and compatibilizer. Fibers Polym2015; 16: 129–137.
34.
OlalekanSTMuyibiSAShahQH, et al.Improving the polypropylene-clay composite using carbon nanotubes as secondary filler. Energy Res J2010; 1(2): 68–72.
35.
EsmaeiliASbarufattiCJiménez-SuárezA, et al.Synergistic effects of double-walled carbon nanotubes and nanoclays on mechanical, electrical and piezoresistive properties of epoxy based nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol2020; 200: 108459.
36.
AwanMShakoorARehanMS, et al.Development of HDPE composites with improved mechanical properties using calcium carbonate and NanoClay. Phys B Condens Matter2021; 606: 412568.
37.
GuoGFinkenstadtVLNimmagaddaY. Mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour of injection-molded wood fiber/carbon fiber high-density polyethylene hybrid composites. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater2019; 2: 690–700.
38.
LinsSRochaMCGd’AlmeidaJRM. Mechanical and thermal properties of high-density polyethylene/alumina/glass fiber hybrid composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater2019; 32: 1566–1581.
39.
AlshammariBAAlenadAMAl-MubaddelFS, et al.Impact of hybrid fillers on the properties of high density polyethylene based composites. Polymers2022; 14: 3427.
40.
FuS-YFengX-QLaukeB, et al.Effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on mechanical properties of particulate–polymer composites. Compos B Eng2008; 39: 933–961.
41.
BensalahHGueraouiKEssabirH, et al.Mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of polypropylene hybrid composites based clay and graphite. J Compos Mater2017; 51: 3563–3576.
42.
EssabirHEIAchabyMHilaliEM, et al.Morphological, structural, thermal and tensile properties of high density polyethylene composites reinforced with treated argan nut shell particles. JBE2015; 12: 129–141.
43.
ChoiRNCheighCILeeSY, et al.Preparation and properties of polypropylene/clay nanocomposites for food packaging. J Food Sci2011; 76: N62–N67.
44.
BarusSZanettiMBraccoP, et al.Influence of MWCNT morphology on dispersion and thermal properties of polyethylene nanocomposites. Polym Degrad Stabil2010; 95: 756.
45.
WilliamsonRV. The flow of pseudo plastic materials. Ind Eng Chem1929; 21: 1108–1111.
