The effects of functionalization on the thermal and tribo-mechanical behaviors of neat and grafted polyethylene nanocomposites

This article presents research on the influence of a coupling agent γ‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MEMO) and cross‐linking agent dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on thermal and nanomechanical properties of neat and waste polyethylene (WPE) as well as their blend. Modification of nanosilica by silanization was performed under supercritical conditions of carbon dioxide‐ethanol mixture. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indentation as well as scratch testing at nanoscale were employed for characterization of the polymer matrix with unmodified and modified nano‐SiO2 particles. Low amounts of the peroxide and silanized nano‐SiO2 particles in the composite formulation significantly improved thermal and tribo‐mechanical behavior at nanoscale. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1710–1719, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers