P. Gao
Department of Chemical Engineering
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, HONG KONG
We report experimental observations on the drastically enhanced toughness in the high-strength and high-modulus ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films due to the addition of 1 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Tensile measurements showed that the presence of MWCNTs in the composites can lead to a ~150% increase in strain energy density in comparison with the pure UHMWPE film at similar draw ratios. This is accompanied with an increase of ~140% in ductility and up to 25% in tensile strength. In situ micro-raman spectroscopy measurements have shown an interesting load transfer at the polymer nanotube interface, where good load transfer between the nanotube and polymer matrix was observed at small and large strains. However, the UHMWPE/MWCNT composite films show a lower strain magnitude for linear elastic response in comparison with the pure UHMWPE at the same elongation ratios. The lower strain limit for softening response was attributed to the enhanced chain mobility in the UHMWPE matrix induced by the MWCNTs.
论文来源：Preprints of Third East Asian Polymer Conference,June,2004
