Structure-property relationships on uniaxially oriented carbon nanotube/polyethylene composites

Multi walled carbon nanotubes have been incorporated into a linear low density polyethylene matrix through high energy ball milling technique at room temperature, without any chemical modification or physical treatment of the nanotubes. Highly oriented samples, with different draw ratios, were obtained by drawing at 80 degrees C the composite films. SEM and FTIR results on the drawn PE films demonstrate that the molecular chains in both crystalline and amorphous phases are well oriented along the drawing direction. The effect of different weight percent loadings of nanotubes and draw ratio on the morphology, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of the composite fibers have been investigated. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.