Effects of Interfacial Interactions and Nanoparticle Agglomeration on the Structural, Thermal, Optical, and Dielectric Properties of Polyethylene/Cr2O3 and Polyethylene/Cr2O3/CNTs Nanocomposites

In this report, we have synthesized the binary and ternary phase nanocomposites [(polyethylene (PE)(1-X)/(Cr2O3)(x)) and (PE)(1-X)/(Cr2O3)(X)/CNTs (where X = 0, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%)] using the melt mixing method and studied the structural, optical, thermal and dielectric properties with an increase in Cr2O3 nanofiller concentration. Our results show an increase in interfacial interactions between Cr2O3 nanofiller and PE matrix with an increase in nanofiller concentration up to X = 6%. After that, the interactions decreased with a further increase in X because of the increase in the size of the Cr2O3 nanoparticle aggregates. Incorporating 2% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into (PE)(1-X)/(Cr2O3)(X) nanocomposites, further decreases the interactions between the Cr2O3 nanofiller and the PE matrix.

Automated summary

In this study, binary and ternary phase nanocomposites were synthesized using the melt mixing method, and the structural, optical, thermal, and dielectric properties were investigated with increasing Cr2O3 nanofiller concentration. The results showed that there was an increase in interfacial interactions between Cr2O3 nanofiller and PE matrix up to a certain concentration, but the interactions decreased with further increase in concentration. Incorporating carbon nanotubes further decreased the interactions between Cr2O3 nanofiller and PE matrix.