Optimization of Gas Barrier Properties of Nanocomposites of HDPE/Nanoclay Using Response Surface Methodology

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plastics, Faculty of Processing, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, P.O. Box 14975-112, Tehran, Iran

2 Safadasht Industrial Park, Shahriar-Eshtehard Road, Postal Code 3164116873, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Hypothesis: Polymeric fuel tanks have considerably lighter weight in comparison to metal tanks. However, a drastic reduction in evaporation of gasoline vapor from these fuel tanks is needed. The use of nanoparticles to produce polymeric nanocomposites can be an effective way to reduce the extent of permeability and enhance mechanical and processing properties. The planar nanoclay platelets have a substantial potential in enhancement of barrier properties of polymers. It should be noted that the type of compatibilizer plays a remarkable role in the dispersion state of nanoclay.
Methods: Nanocomposite samples were prepared using melt blending method in a twin screw extruder. In order to find the optimized formulation, the effects of nanoclay content, compatibilizer type, compatibilizer content and screw speed were assessed using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimization was performed based on the lowest gas permeability, favorable impact strength and melt flow index.
Findings: In general, the increment of nanoclay content led to improvement of the barrier properties, while compatibilizer content had an optimal level. The results of optimization revealed that the sample containing 10 wt% of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene as compatibilizer and 6 wt% of organoclay (Cloisite 20A) possesses the optimum properties. Indeed, this sample showed an optimum balance between different properties and an exfoliated morphology for nanoclay platelets was obtained. On the other hand, although the oxidized polyethylene wax with high viscosity showed the lowest gas permeability, the impact strength and melt flow index were totally undesirable. Nanocomposite samples containing low viscosity oxidized polyethylene wax exhibited the highest gas permeability.

Keywords


  1. Honaker K.T., Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites Through the Addition of Graphene Nanoplatelets and Their Uses in Automotive Fuel Tanks, PhD Thesis, Chemical Engineering Department, Michigan State University, USA, 2017.
  2. Adak B., Joshi M., and Butola B.S., Polyurethane/Clay Nanocomposites with Improved Helium Gas Barrier and Mechanical Properties: Direct Versus Master-Batch Melt Mixing Route, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 135, 46422, 2018.
  3. Osman M.A. and Atallah A., High-Density Polyethylene Micro- and Nanocomposites: Effect of Particle Shape, Size and Surface Treatment on Polymer Crystallinity and Gas Permeability, Macromol. Rapid Commun., 25, 1540-1544, 2004.
  4. Guo Y., Yang K., Zuo X., Xue Y., Marmorat C., Liub Y., Chang C.C., and Rafailovich M.H., Effects of Clay Platelets and Natural Nanotubes on Mechanical Properties and Gas Permeability of Poly(lactic acid) Nanocomposites, Polymer, 83, 246-259, 2016.
  5. Khalaj M.J., Ahmadi H., Lesankhosh R., and Khalaj G., Study of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Nanocomposites for Food Packaging Application: Nano-clay Modified with Iron Nanoparticles, Trends Food Sci. Technol., 51, 41-48, 2016.
  6. Jeziórska R., Świerz-Motysia, B., Zielecka M., Szadkowska A., and Studziński M., Structure and Mechanical Properties of Low-Density Polyethylene/Spherical Silica Nanocomposites Prepared by Melt Mixing: The Joint Action of Silica’s Size, Functionality, and Compatibilizer, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 125, 4326-4337, 2012.
  7. Ko J. and Chang J., Properties of Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Nanocomposite Films Containing Different Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes, Polym. Eng. Sci., 49, 2168-2178, 2009.
  8. Lee J.H., Jung D., Hong C.E., Rhee K.Y., and  Advani S.G., Properties of Polyethylene-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites Prepared by Melt Intercalation with a PP-g-MA Compatibilizer, Compos. Sci. Technol., 65, 1996-2002, 2005.
  9. Checchetto R., Miotello A., Nicolais L., and Carotenuto G., Gas Transport Through Nanocomposite Membrane Composed by Polyethylene with Dispersed Graphite Nanoplatelets, J. Member. Sci., 463, 196-204, 2014.
  10. Adelnia H., Bidsorkhi H. C., Ismail A.F., and Matsuura T., Gas Permeability and Permselectivity Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Sepiolite Mixed Matrix Membranes, Sep. Purif. Technol., 146, 351-357, 2015.
  11. Chrissafis K., Paraskevopoulos K.M., Tsiaoussis I., and Bikiaris D., Comparative Study of the Effect of Different Nanoparticles on the Mechanical Properties, Permeability, and Thermal Degradation Mechanism of HDPE, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 114, 1606-1618, 2009.
  12. Weltrowski M. and Dolez P.I., Compatibilizer Polarity Parameters as Tools for Predicting Organoclay Dispersion in Polyolefin Nanocomposites, J. Nanotechnol., 2019, 2019. Doi:org/10.1155/2019/1404196
  13. Moghri M., Garmabi H., and Zanjanijam A.R., Prediction of Barrier Properties of HDPE/PA-6/Nanoclay Composites by Response Surface Approach: Effects of Compatibilizer Type and the Contents of Nanoclay, PA-6 and Compatibilizer, Polym. Bull. 75, 2751-2767, 2018.
  14. Picard E., Vermogen, A., Gérard J., and Espuche E., Influence of the Compatibilizer Polarity and Molar Mass on the Morphology and the Gas Barrier Properties of Polyethylene/Clay Nanocomposites, J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys., 46, 2593-2604, 2008.
  15. Lotti C., Isaac C.S., Branciforti M.C., Alves R.M.V.,  Liberman  S., and Bretas R.E.S., Rheological, Mechanical and Transport Properties of Blown Films of High Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites, Eur. Polym. J., 44, 1346-1357, 2008.
  16. Jacquelot E., Espuche E., Gérard J., Duchet J., and Mazabraud P., Morphology and Gas Barrier Properties of Polyethylene-based Nanocomposites, J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 44, 431-440, 2006.
  17. Marini J., Branciforti M.C., Alves R.M.V., and Bretas R.E.S., Effect of EVA as Compatibilizer on the Mechanical Properties, Permeability Characteristics, Lamellae Orientation, and Long Period of Blown Films of HDPE/Clay Nanocomposites, J. Appl. Polym. Sci.,118, 3340-3350, 2010.
  18. Gholami R., Dehghannya J., and Ghanbarzadeh B., Modeling Water Vapor Sorption and Permeability in Starch-Montmorillonite Nanocomposite Films, Iran. J. Polym. Sci. Technol. (Persian), 26, 139-148, 2013.
  19. Fredrickson G.H. and Bicerano J., Barrier Properties of Oriented Disk Composites, J. Chem. Phys., 110, 2181-2188, 1999.
  20. Nielsen L.E., Models for the Permeability of Filled Polymer Systems, J. Macromol. Sci., 1, 929-942, 1967.
  21. Cussler E.L., Hughes S.E., Ward III W.J., and Aris R., Barrier Membranes, J. Member. Sci., 38, 161-174, 1988.
  22. Lape N.K., Nuxoll E.E., and Cussler E.L., Polydisperse Flakes in Barrier Films, J. Membre. Sci., 236, 29-37, 2004.
  23. Decker J.J.,  Meyers K.P., Paul D.R.,  Schiraldic D.A., Hiltner A., and Nazarenko S., Polyethylene-based Nanocomposites Containing Organoclay: A New Approach to Enhance Gas Barrier via Multilayer Coextrusion and Interdiffusion, Polymer, 61, 42-54, 2015.
  24. Spencer M.W., Cui L., Yoo Y., and Paul D.R., Morphology and Properties of Nanocomposites Based on HDPE/HDPE-g-MA Blends, Polymer, 51, 1056-1070, 2010.
  25. Ujianto O., Jollands M., and  Kao N., Effect of Processing Variables on Tensile Modulus and Morphology of Polyethylene/Clay Nanocomposites Prepared in an Internal Mixer, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 319, 12019, 2018.