Toward Forced Assembly of In Situ Low-Density Polyethylene Composites Reinforced With Low-Tg Phosphate Glass Fibers: Effects of Matrix Crystallization and Shear Deformation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2012

School

Polymer Science and Engineering

Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the feasibility of using facile forced assembly methods (temperature and shear strain-induced orientation of the dispersed phase) to create novel “in situ” low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composites containing fibrillar inorganic phosphate glass (P-glass) reinforcing phase during the composite fabrication. Clearly, the experimental results show that unique thermo-rheological conditions exist under which the “in situ” LDPE composites containing fibrillar P-glass with potential enhanced benefits can be prepared. DSC results showed that the P-glass has a moderate nucleating effect on the LDPE crystallization that restricts in situ deformation of the P-glass during the composite fabrication. Rheo-optical data showed that a 5% P-glass/95% LDPE hybrid composition, subjected to a shear rate of 20 s−1 in the parallel plate configuration and 130°C gave “in situ” LDPE composite samples with the largest amount of P-glass fibers in the limited range of experimental conditions used. This study may spur interests in a better understanding of the potential for the “in situ” reinforcement of engineering plastics with inorganic P-glasses, at the molecular level, to produce novel “in situ” polymer composites with very high aspect ratios of the reinforcing inorganic phase. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers

Publication Title

Polymer Engineering and Science

Volume

52

Issue

10

First Page

2090

Last Page

2098

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