Mechanical properties of high density polyethylene/carbon nanotube composites

Carbon-nano tubes (CNTs) have been used with polymers from the date of their inception to make composites having remarkable properties. An attempt has been made in this direction, in order to enhance mechanical and tribological properties of the composite materials. The latter, were achieved through the injection molding of high density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with specific volume fraction of CNTs. A considerable improvement on mechanical properties of the material can be observed when the volume fraction of CNT is increased. The composite reinforcement shows a good load transfer effect and interface link between CNT and HDPE. The volumetric wear rate is calculated from the Wang's model, Ratner's correlation and reciprocal of toughness. The results obtained clearly show the linear relationship with CNT loading which supports the microscopic wear model. It is concluded that both Halpin-Tsai and modified series model can be used to predict Young's modulus of CNT HDPE composites. From thermal analysis study, it is found that melting point and oxidation temperature of the composites are not affected by the addition of CNTs, however its crystallinity seems to increase. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.