gamma-irradiated poly(tetrafluoroethylene) particle-filled low-density polyethylene. I. Effect of silane coupling agents on mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties
Ae. Akinay et T. Tincer, gamma-irradiated poly(tetrafluoroethylene) particle-filled low-density polyethylene. I. Effect of silane coupling agents on mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties, J APPL POLY, 74(4), 1999, pp. 866-876
Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) scraps were recovered as a filler material
for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) after they were degraded by Co-60 gamm
a-rays under atmospheric conditions to make small-size powder. The powder P
TFE, which was called secondary PTFE (2 degrees-PTFE), was melt mixed with
LDPE and then extruded to obtain 200 mu m films. The mechanical and thermal
properties and also the morphology of the fractured surface of these 2 deg
rees-PTFE-filled LDPE were studied. It was found that the addition of 2 deg
rees-PTFE resulted in thermofilm property of LDPE but it slightly decreased
the thermal oxidative temperature of LDPE. The tensile strength and ultima
te elongation of LDPE were found to decrease with the addition of 2 degrees
-PTFE. However, when it is compared to the addition of virgin PTFE into LDP
E, 2 degrees-PTFE shows better mechanical properties due to the presence of
oxy groups which are capable of interacting with the main matrix. A furthe
r improvement in mechanical properties was achieved by silane coupling agen
t treatment of 2 degrees-PTFE. Silane coupling agents were found to enhance
the interfacial adhesion between 2 degrees-PTFE and LDPE. The study on the
fractured surfaces by scanning electron microscope revealed this adhesion
between these two polymers. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym S
ci 74: 866-876, 1999.