STRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF POLYETHYLENE-FULLERENE COMPOSITES

The microhardness of films of fullerene-polyethylene composites prepar ed by gelation from semidilute solution, using ultrahigh molecular wei ght polyethylene (PE) (6 x 10(6)), has been determined. The composite materials were characterized by optical microscopy and X-ray diffracti on techniques. The microhardness of the films is shown to increase not ably with the concentration of fullerene particles within the films. I n addition, a substantial hardening of the composites is obtained afte r annealing the materials at high temperatures (T-a=130 degrees C) and long annealing times (t(a)=10(5) s). The hardening of the composites with annealing temperature has been identified with the thickening of the PE crystalline lamellae. Comparison of X-ray scattering data and t he microhardness values upon annealing leads to the conclusion of phas e separation of C-60 molecules from the polyethylene crystals within t he material. The temperature dependence is discussed in terms of the i ndependent contribution of the PE matrix of the C-60 aggregates to the hardness value.