Effect of Vibration Extrusion on Mechanical Properties and Structure of HDPE/OMMT Nanocomposites

Abstract

A vibration technique was applied in extrusion molding of HDPE 6100M/OMMT nanocomposites. The results from the study suggest that samples obtained by vibration extrusion were strengthened effectively. The maximum increase percentage of tensile strength at 180°C and 200°C reached 25.14% and 21.43% respectively. It was found from microscopic structures measured by DSC, WAXD and SEM that the crystalline grains of polyethylene matrix became fine, that the orientation degree of crystalline increased and that crystallinity became perfect under the vibration field. Moreover, vibration can make nano-OMMT disperse more homogeneously in the HDPE matrix.

Keywords:

• HDPE
• Mechanical properties
• Nano-OMMT
• Nanocomposites
• Structure
• Vibration extrusion

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the financial support of this work by the Nature Science Foundation of China (Contract Number: 50803038, 50903054, 50873072), and Youth Foundation of Sichuan University (Grant Number: 07016).