Effects of Graphene in High-Density Polyethylene Microfibers
View/ Open
Date
2022-12-20Author
Sivadas Anilal, Ashish Lal
0000-0002-5563-7813
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
High-Density Polyethylene uniquely can induce banded spherulites as it is crystallized from its melt. We studied the effects of graphene in the crystallography of banded HDPE by examining parameters such as the extent of twisting, spherulitic growth, and nucleation density. The application of graphene as a multifunctional filler in polymer matrices is a great topic of interest because graphene at low concentrations can bring many improvements in mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. We synthesized graphene oxide by chemical oxidation of graphite and further studied its effects in the twisted crystallography of HDPE. Three batches of fibers were extruded: two batches with different concentrations of graphene and a neat HDPE for cross-examination. The HDPE microfibers were produced using a twin-screw extruder/micro-compounder. The fibers were analyzed using characterization techniques such as Polarized Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction.