Sažetak
Products made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), such as pipes and fittings, are commonly used for transportation of various media. Due to its processability, chemical resistance, ressistance to corrosion, low cost and good mechanical properties it can be used as a matrix for composite materials. Like other polymers, HDPE has poor thermal properties, including low values of thermal conductivity. In this paper polymer composite is prepared by melt blending of HDPE as a matrix together with expanded graphite (EG) and boron nitride (BN) as fillers. Aim is to increase thermal conductivity of composite by adding fillers, but maintaining mechanical properties at the same time. For preparation of composite, micro sized particles of EG were used together with micro sized particles of BN. Two combinations of filler content will be used, first one with EG mass ratio of 25% and with BN mass ratio of 15% and second with 15% mass ratio of EG and 25% mass ratio of BN. Polyethylene-grafted-glycidyl methacrylate (PE-g-GMA) will be used as a compatibilizer. Preparation of samples includes melt mixing in a compounder and preparation of test specimens with compression moulding. With the addition of 25% of expanded graphite thermal conductivity increase 248% but by incorporating together with boron nitride, it is expected to increase or retain the tensile properties of the initial polyethylene.
Ključne riječi
composites; HDPE; boron nitride; expanded graphite; tensile properties