Effect of different type of polyethylene matrix on the properties of PE/HNT composites

This paper deals with a characterization of selected thermal, dielectric and mechanical properties of composites based on polyethylene as a matrix and clay filler. The filler contains primarily aluminosilicate called halloysite nanotubes. The main attention was paid to the effect of different type of polyethylene and different amount of clay filler on the properties of prepared composites. Two different type of polyethylene (linear low-density and high-density polyethylene) and three weight percentages of the clay filler (1%, 3%, and 7%) were considered for the experiment. The behavior of materials during a heating was determined by a simultaneous thermal analysis. Measured dielectric properties represent the volume resistivity and polarization indexes in the DC electric field and the dielectric strength in the harmonic field. Mechanical properties were determined based on the tensile test. The performed experiment gives evidence of the different effect of increasing the filling level of tested clay on the material properties of composites with a different type of polyethylene. The addition of the clay filler influences material parameters more significantly in the case of composites based on high-density polyethylene. The influence of filling on thermal properties is mainly positive and the influence on dielectric and mechanical properties is rather negative.