Use of Amphiphilic Composites based on Clay/Carbon Nanofibers as Fillers in UHMWPE

In this work, it is proposed a new strategy to improve the dispersion of inorganic fillers in polymeric matrices by producing surface carbon nanostructures. Clay/carbon nanofibers particles were prepared and used as fillers to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), elemental analyses, Raman, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with ethanol at different temperatures, i.e. 700, 800 and 900 °C with and without Fe catalyst, can be used to produce carbon (0.5-3.6 wt.%), mainly as nanofibers, on the clay surface. The use of these clay/carbon particles as fillers in UHMWPE at 1 and 3 wt.% produced an increase in the yield stress from 16 to ca. 20 MPa and Young modulus from 314 MPa for pur e UHMWPE to values near 395-408 MPa. Moreover, the presence of the carbon/clay composites led to a strong improvement of the thermal properties of the UHMWPE increasing the decomposition Tonset (degradation start temperature) from 445 up to 472 °C. It was also observed by the crystallization enthal pies that the UHMWPE increased the crystallinity from 55 to 80-85% in the presence of the carbon composites. These results are discussed in terms of the strong interactions of the hydrophobic carbon nanostructures on the clay surface with the polymer hydrophobic chains.
Source: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research