Structure-property relationship in polyethylene reinforced by polyethylene-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Polyethylene-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PE-g-MWNT) were used to reinforce polyethylene (PE). The nanocomposites possessed not only improved stiffness and strength, but also increased ductility and toughness. The effects on the structure and morphology of composites due to pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and PE-g-MWNT were studied and compared using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The SAXS long period, crystalline layer thickness and crystallinity of polymer lamellar stacks were found to decrease significantly in MWNT composites, while the decreases were much smaller in PE-g-MWNT composites. PE-g-MWNT allowed a more efficient and unhindered crystallization at a lamellar level, while MWNT disrupted the order of lamellar stacks, probably because of their tendency to aggregate. The SAXS crystallinity and the mechanical properties of the composites showed similar trends as a function of MWNT content. This suggested that the improvement of the interfacial strength between polymer and carbon nanotubes was a result of synergistic effects of better dispersion of the filler, better stress transfer, due to the grafting of polymer and MWNT, and the nucleation of a crystalline phase around MWNT. The latter effect was confirmed by measurements of kinetics of non-isothermal crystallization.