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Current Nanoscience

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ISSN (Print): 1573-4137
ISSN (Online): 1875-6786

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Research Article

Electrical and Structural Properties of HDPE/MWCNT/PE-g-MAH Nanocomposites Prepared Using Solution Mixing and Hot Compaction Two-step Approach

Author(s): Mahmoud Al-Hussein*, Ali Jaffal and Rund Abu-Zuryak

Volume 19, Issue 2, 2023

Published on: 14 January, 2022

Page: [194 - 201] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1573413717666211108123943

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Abstract

Background: MWCNTs tend to form agglomerates in nonpolar polymers due to their small size and large surface area. A promising approach to facilitate their dispersion within the polymeric matrix is based on employing a compatibilizer agent.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of a compatibilizer agent based on maleic anhydride grafted HDPE (PE-g-MAH) on the electrical and morphological properties of highdensity polyethylene/multi-wall carbon nanotubes nanocomposites (HDPE/MWCNT/PE-g-MAH) prepared by solution mixing and hot compaction two-step approach.

Methods: A two-step approach based on solvent mixing and hot compaction was used to prepare nanocomposites of HDPE/MWCNT/PE-g-MAH with different MWCNTs and PE-g-MAH contents. The electrical, morphological, and HDPE crystalline structure properties of the nanocomposites were characterized by impedance spectroscopy, high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, respectively.

Results: The results confirm the positive role of the PE-g-MAH compatibilizer in enhancing the dispersion of the MWCNTs and, in turn, the formation of more conductive pathways at low MWCNTs content in the nanocomposites. Adding 2 wt% of the compatibilizer to the nanocomposite of 1 wt% MWCNTs increases the electrical conductivity by more than three orders of magnitude. Increasing the MWCNTs concentration by more than 1 wt% leads to a limited enhancement in conductivity of the nanocomposite prepared using 2 wt% of PE-g-MAH compatibilizer. Meanwhile, the morphological characterization revealed that the limited increase in conductivity of nanocomposites with only 1 wt% compatibilizer is related to a substantial increase in the HDPE crystallinity (from 14.8 to 43.9%) induced by the enhanced nucleating effect of the dispersed MWCNTs. The excess HDPE crystalline regions suppress the formation of effective MWCNTs conducting pathways due to their confinement into smaller inter-crystallite regions in the nanocomposite.

Conclusion: Therefore, a balanced role of the compatibilizer between the dispersion of the MWCNTs and the nucleation of more HDPE crystallites has to be achieved by carefully selecting the compatibilizer type and concentration.

Keywords: HDPE, carbon nanotubes, PE-g-MAH compatibilizer, nanocomposites, electrical conductivity, crystallinity, critical concentration.

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