Study on microstructure and properties of graphene⁃reinforced polyethylene composites

doi:10.19491/j.issn.1001-9278.2025.02.004

Abstract

Abstract:

In this study， polyethylene （PE）/modified graphene composites were prepared through mechanical ball milling and hot melt extrusion， and the effect of modified graphene on the microstructure and properties of the composites were investigated. The results indicated that graphene can be uniformly dispersed in the PE matrix through modification with rare earth. The as⁃prepared PE/0.5 wt%CeO₂@rGO composite exhibited a degree of crystallinity of 62.14 %， its tensile strength increased by 8.6 %， its elastic modulus increased by 5.79 %， and its impact toughness increased up to 4.35 kJ/m². A change in the fracture mode took place from a sole ductile fracture to the brittle⁃ductile combined one. Meanwhile， the addition of modified graphene resulted in an increase in the thermal decomposition temperature by 20 ℃.

Key words: modified graphene, polyethylene, composite, structure and property

CLC Number:

TQ325.1⁺2

YU Tianliang, CHEN Wenge, CHEN Shirun, CHEN Da, ZHOU Wei, ZHOU Lanyan. Study on microstructure and properties of graphene⁃reinforced polyethylene composites[J]. China Plastics, 2025, 39(2): 15-20.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1. Schematic diagram of preparation process of the sample

Fig.2. XRD patterns of the pure PE and PE/modified graphene composite materials

Fig.3. DSC crystallization curves of the PE/modified graphene composite materials

样品	T_c/℃	ΔH_c/ J·g^-1	T_m/℃	ΔH_m/ J·g^-1	X_c/%
纯PE	114.22	136.41	132.45	113.91	38.88
PE/0.5 %CeO₂@rGO	117.71	161.90	129.89	182.02	62.14
PE/1.0 %CeO₂@rGO	117.65	162.00	129.94	177.04	60.42
PE/0.5 % GO	117.61	159.90	129.83	172.96	59.03

Tab.1. DSC data of the PE/modified graphene composite materials

Fig.4. TG curves of the PE/modified graphene composite materials

样品	T_onset/℃	T_max/℃	质量损失率/%
纯PE	442.50	486.78	99.435
PE/0.5 %CeO₂@rGO	469.94	503.47	99.675
PE/1.0 %CeO₂@rGO	470.41	505.19	99.321
PE/0.5 % GO	470.61	505.03	99.820

Tab.2. TG data of the PE/modified graphene composite materials

Fig.5. SEM images of the PE/modified graphene composite materials

Fig.6. PLM images of the pure PE and PE/modified graphene composite materials

Fig.7. Mechanical properties of the composites

Fig.8. SEM images of tensile fracture surface of the PE/modified graphene composite materials

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