Thermal fractionation (SSA) of the HDPE/grapheme nanocomposite and their relationship with crystalline domains

Abstract

In this work it was prepared nanocomposites of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)/graphene nanosheets by melt and solution intercalation in concentrations of 0.5 % wt and 1.0 % wt. Thermal fractionation by Successive Self-nucleation Annealing (SSA) technique was applied by means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). This procedure allowed evaluating the distribution of short chains branching and lamellar thickness in crystalline regions, basing on the principle of self-nucleation melt/crystallization during successive thermal cycles. The global crystallinity between the samples was quite similar, however, the size and distribution of the crystalline domains have been altered. Smaller crystalline domains and more fine lamellar thickness were obtained in the nanocomposites. This occurs because the nanoparticles are acting as nucleation sites, due to strong interaction with the matrix. © 2014 American Institute of Physics.