Enhanced mechanical properties of polyethylene composites with low content of electrospun nylon-66 nanofibers

High density polyethylene (HOPE) based composites containing electrospun nylon-66 nanofibers were successfully prepared by a hot-compaction method. Incorporation of a low content of nanofibers can simultaneously improve tensile strength, modulus and toughness. The mechanisms for reinforcement and toughening were investigated. The increased crystallinity, accompanied with the fact that HDPE melt impregnates the inter-fiber voids and nanofibers are therefore firmly embedded into the matrix, is responsible for the improved tensile strength and modulus. Moreover, an increase in amorphous thickness with the increasing nanofiber content mainly contributes to the enhanced toughness. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.