Results
Title

Carbon Nanotube Reinforced High Density Polyethylene Materials for Offshore Sheathing Applications.

Authors

Okolo, Chinyere; Rafique, Rafaila; Iqbal, Sadia Sagar; Saharudin, Mohd Shahneel; Inam, Fawad; Tornabene, Francesco

Abstract

Multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT)-filled high density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposites were prepared by extrusion and considered for their suitability in the offshore sheathing applications. Transmission electron microscopy was conducted to analyse dispersion after bulk extrusion. Monolithic and nanocomposite samples were subjected to accelerated weathering and photodegradation (carbonyl and vinyl indices) characterisations, which consisted of heat, moisture (seawater) and UV light, intended to imitate the offshore conditions. The effects of accelerated weathering on mechanical properties (tensile strength and elastic modulus) of the nanocomposites were analysed. CNT addition in HDPE produced environmentally resilient nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties. The energy utilised to extrude nanocomposites was also less than the energy used to extrude monolithic HDPE samples. The results support the mass substitution of CNT-filled HDPE nanocomposites in high-end offshore applications.

Subjects

ENERGY consumption; NANOCOMPOSITE materials; IRON composites; WEATHERING; TRANSMISSION electron microscopy; ELASTIC modulus

Publication

Molecules, 2020, Vol 25, Issue 13, p2960

ISSN

1420-3049

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.3390/molecules25132960