Largely enhanced ductility of immiscible high density polyethylene/polyamide 6 blends via nano-bridge effect of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes
(2533–2542)Polymers for Advanced Technologies 22 #12 (2011)
Xiang et al, China, introducedfunctionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) into immiscible high density polyethylene/polyamide 6 (HDPE/PA6) blends through different sample preparation methods.  The mechanical measurements demonstrate that, when the nanocomposite is prepared from the HDPE master batch, the sample exhibits excellent tensile strength and toughness simultaneously.  For all the nanocomposites, FMWCNTs tend to migrate and/or maintain in PA6 particles, leading to the variation of the crystallization behavior in PA6 phase. Further results based on morphologies characterization indicate that the intensified interfacial adhesion between HDPE and PA6, which is realized by the nano-bridge effect of FMWCNTs in the interfaces, is the main reason for the largely improved ductility  (RDC 11/25/2011)

Microstructure and fracture behavior of maleated high-density polyethylene/ silicon carbide nanocomposites toughened with poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) triblock copolymer
(322–333)Advances in Polymer Technology 30 #4 (2011)
Liao, Bao and Tjong of the City University of Hong Kong, China, developed maleated high-density polyethylene (mPE) consisting of 95 wt% high-density polyethylene and 5 wt% polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride was filled with 2–4 wt% silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiCp) and toughened with 10–30 wt% poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) (SEBS).  Such mPE nanocomposites were compounded in a twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding.  XRD and POM results showed that SEBS and SiCp additions reduce the crystallite thickness and spherulite size of mPE. DSC and HDT measurements revealed that SiCp addition promotes nucleation of HDPE crystals and markedly increases the range of elevated temperature over which mPE hybrids maintain adequate stiffness.  Tensile test results showed that SEBS reduces the Young's modulus and yield strength of mPE, whereas SiCp stiffens and reinforces the mPE/SEBS blend.. The impact strength of mPE/SEBS/SiCp hybrids improved dramatically with increasing SEBS content. EWF results obtained at room temperature showed that the specific EWF of mPE/SEBS blends and mPE/SEBS/SiCp hybrids also increases with increasing SEBS content.  (RDC 10/11/2011)