Nanocomposites based on polyethylene and modified silica phase

Polymer nanocomposites based on solvent-crazed porous matrices of polyethylene of high density and modified phases of silica with a second component homogeneously distributed over the volume of the polymer have been obtained. It is shown that the content of the silica phase can be varied within wide limits; the maximum degree of filling amounted to about 50 wt %. The thermal stability of nanocomposites is studied. It is found that it depends on the content of solid filler and chemical composition of silica phases. When the content of the second component exceeds 20 wt %, the retention of the sample’s geometric shape at temperatures above the melting temperature of the polymer matrix is observed, which indicates the appearance of a framework structure of silica. The sorption properties of the composites and porous phase of silica, which is formed after removing the polymer matrix, have been studied. It is found that the composites practically do not absorb nitrogen under the conditions of low-temperature sorption. The specific surface area of porous silicon residuals amounted to 70–130 m2/g. © 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.