The tensile and thermal behavior of polyethylene/silica nanocomposites for high temperature applications produced via injection molding

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

2 Department of Materials Science and Engineering- School of Engineering- Shiraz University

Abstract

Polyethylene-silica (PE/SiO2) nanocomposites have gained significant attention in various fields due to their enhanced properties. Overall, the versatility of polyethylene-silica nanocomposites makes them valuable in advancing technology across multiple sectors. This study tries to examine the role of SiO2 nano particles on the tensile and thermal behavior of polyethylene (PE). To do so, polyethylene/silica nanocomposites with varying percentages of silica nanoparticles (i.e. 0, 1, 3, 5%, and 10) were produced using a double screw extruder and standard samples were then produced through injection molding. Tensile test, differential scanning callorimetry (DSC) and thermal graviometry (TGA) analysis were done. The results indicated that as the silica content reached 10 wt%, the Young's modulus and tensile strength of pure PE increased from 0.8 MPa and 14.5 MPa to 1.4 GPa and 17.5 MPa, respectively. An increase of approximately 7.5°C in the crystallization temperature was observed in the PE reinforced with 10 wt% silica nanoparticles, as SiO2 acted as a nucleating agent. The thermal stability of the nanocomposite was increased by the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles.

Keywords

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Journal of Ultrafine Grained and Nanostructured Materials
Volume 58, Issue 1
June 2025
Pages 15-24

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 December 2024
  • Revise Date: 03 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 02 February 2025

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