Rheology, Crystallization Kinetics and Mechanical Properties of HDPE/Vinyl-POSS Nanocomposites

Abstract

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is usually prepared from the hydrolytic condensation of organotrialkoxysilanes. The rheology, non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/vinyl-containing POSS (V-POSS) nanocomposites were investigated. The results show that the molten HDPE/V-POSS belong to pseudoplastic fluid. The V-POSS can accelerate the nucleation of HDPE at starting stage of crystallization. However, it will decrease the crystallization ability of HDPE in the subsequent crystallization process. The modified Avrami analysis by Jeziorny can well explain the crystallization behaviour of HDPE/V-POSS. The yield strength and tensile modulus of nanocomposites both increase when V-POSS content is 6%.

Keywords:

• Crystallization kinetics
• High density polyethylene
• Nanocomposites
• Rheology
• Silsesquioxane

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Nature Science Foundation (No. E2007000204) of Hebei Province, China.