Characterizations of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Nanocomposite Films With Organomica

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites with various organoclay contents were prepared by using the solution intercalation method. Up to a clay loading of 4 wt%, the clay particles were found to be highly dispersed in the UHMWPE matrix without any agglomeration of particles. However, for a clay content above 6 wt% some agglomerated structures form in the polymer matrix. The melting transition temperatures (T(m)s) and ultimate strengths of the hybrids increase with increasing clay content; the maximum values of these properties were obtained for the hybrid containing 2 wt% of the organoclay. However, the thermal degradation stability and initial modulus are at their maximum values when the amount of organoclay in the hybrid is 4 wt%. The oxygen permeability, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and transmittance at 400 nm were found to monotonically decrease with increases in the clay loading in the range 0 to 10 wt%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 51:679-686, 2011. (C) 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers