Multifunctional high-density polyethylene nanocomposites produced by incorporation of exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets 2: Crystallization, thermal and electrical properties

This research investigates the effect of exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) on the crystallization behavior, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/GNP nanocomposites. HDPE/GNP nanocomposites were fabricated by melt blending followed with injection molding. Results indicate that GNP is a good nucleating agent at low loading levels and as a result can significantly increase crystallization temperature and crystallinity of HDPE. At high GNP loadings, however, the close proximity of GNP particles retards the crystallization process. The thermal stability and thermal conductivity of HDPE/GNP nanocomposites were found to be significantly enhanced as a function of GNP concentration owing to the excellent thermal properties of GNP. Finally, the high percolation threshold of HDPE/GNP nanocomposites (similar to 1015 vol%), prepared by melt blending and injection molding was successfully reduced to around 5 vol% of GNP loading by employing a novel compounding method, solid-state ball milling. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. (c) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers