The orientation of carbon nanotubes in poly(ethylene-co-octene) microcellular foaming and its suppression effect on cell coalescence

Poly(ethylene-co-octene)/multiwall carbon nanotube (PEOc/MWNT) nanocomposites were prepared by a melt blending process. The MWNT's solubility and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation indicated that the MWNT bonded well with a PEOc matrix. This facilitated the orientation of the MWNT when shear and extensional forces were applied to the nanocomposite melts. Microcellular PEOc/MWNT nanocomposite foams were prepared by a rising temperature process using supercritical CO2 as the blowing agent. Various foaming times were selected to reveal the cell-structure evolution during the cell growth stage. The obvious cell opening, resulting from cell coalescence, was observed in the cell wall in the neat PEOc foams. When the MWNT was introduced, however, the MWNT tended to orient in the cell wall. Here, as a result of the strain hardening, it acted as a self-reinforcing element, protecting the cells from destruction during cell growth. Consequently, a dramatic decrease in the open cell content and a still high cell density at long foaming times were obtained in the PEOc/MWNT nanocomposite foams. The present study provides experimental evidence of the vital effects of nanoparticle orientation on cell coalescence. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. (C) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers