Influence of ultrasonic treatment on mechanical and electro-physical characteristics of UHMWPE/MWCNT composites

Markevich, I. A.; Selyutin, G. Ye.; Poluboyarov, V. A.; Drokin, N. A.; Selyutin, A. G.; et al. Materials Today-proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.02.746

The influence of ultrasonic treatment on the strength and dielectric properties of composites based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) is studied. It is revealed that the ultrasonic treatment of composite melt at 130 °C results in the uniform distribution of nanotubes in the UHMWPE matrix, an increase in the degree of composite crystallinity by 10%, an increase in abrasion resistance by 37%, an increase in elongation at rupture by a factor of 2. The change in the physical and mechanical properties of the composite is caused by the change in the polymer matrix structure, taking place as a result of ultrasonic action, and does not depend on the presence of nanotubes in the polymer matrix.