Effect of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanoplatelet on Crystal Nucleation, Mechanical Behavior, and Thermal Stability of High‐Density Polyethylene‐Based Nanocomposites. Issue 7 (21st June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chaurasia, Ankur; Parashar, Avinash; Mulik, Rahul S.
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular materials and engineering. Volume 305:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-06-21
• Subjects: crystallinity -- h‐BN nanofillers -- high density polyethylene -- nanocomposites; Plastics -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.202000248
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1438-7492

Abstract

Abstract: Hexagonal boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNNP) significantly enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of high‐density polyethylene. In order to ensure superior dispersibility of BNNP, two different techniques, colloidal solution, and solvent blending, are used for fabricating nanocomposites. Compared to solvent blending, the colloidal solution‐based fabrication technique has superior dispersion capabilities for nanofillers in the PE matrix, which helps in improving the thermal stability and crystallinity in synthesized nanocomposites. A significant increase in the rate of crystallization of polyethylene (PE) is reported at 1% weight fraction of BNNP, which further increases with the increase in weight percentage of BNNP. BNNP acts as a new source of nucleating sites for crystallization in PE that also reduces the size of secondary structures spherulites. Enhanced tensile strength and Young's modulus of BNNP/PE nanocomposites are reported with the increase in weight contribution of BNNP in the range of 1% to 5%. Abstract : This study presents a critical insight into the crystallization, mechanical, and thermal behavior of h‐BN/ polyethylene (PE) nanocomposites. The solvent blending method and colloidal solution method are used for the synthesis of the nanocomposites. The colloidal solution method shows superior dispersibility of boron nitride nanoplatelets (BNNP) in the PE matrix, thus resulting in improved crystallinity and thermal stability behavior of h‐BN/PE nanocomposites.