INCORPORATION OF CARBON NANOTUBES INTO ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE BY HIGH ENERGY BALL MILLING

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes, CNTs (0.3-1.0wt.%), were incorporated in the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) matrix by solid state dry mixing in order to avoid the use of high temperature, solvents, and materials pretreatments. Physical, morphological, and mechanical tests were performed on both the pristine materials and the nanocomposites. Experimental results showed that the CNTs are homogeneously dispersed into the polymeric matrix but no close interaction occurs between the two components. In fact, no appreciable mechanical or thermal improvement was observed. Instead, a bi-dimensional CNT conductive network was formed within the polymeric matrix, which increased its crystalline order.