title: Preparation and characterization of bagasse/HDPE composites using multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: This article presents the preparation and characterization of bagasse/high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. The effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), as reinforcing agent, on the mechanical and physical properties were also investigated. In order to increase the interphase adhesion, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) was added as a coupling agent to all the composites studied. In the sample preparation, MWCNTs and MAPE contents were used as variable factors. The morphology of the specimens was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The results of strength measurement indicated that when 1.5 wt% MWCNTs were added, tensile and flexural properties reached their maximum values. At high level of MWCNTs loading (3 or 4 wt%), increased population of MWCNTs lead to agglomeration and stress transfer gets blocked. The addition of MWCNTs filler slightly decreased the impact strength of composites. Both mechanical and physical properties were improved when 4 wt% MAPE was applied. SEM micrographs also showed that the surface roughness improved with increasing MAPE loading from 0 to 4 wt%. The improvement of physicomechanical properties of composites confirmed that MWCNTs have good reinforcement and the optimum synergistic effect of MWCNTs and MAPE was achieved at the combination of 1.5 and 4 wt%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Technologies, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, PO Box 15815-3538, Tehran, Iran. ashori@irost.org
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashori
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheshmani
authors.forename: Foad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farhani
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D020959:Polyethylene; D002482:Cellulose; C027433:bagasse