Influence of electrothermopolarization process on the structure and properties of nanocomposites based on high-density polyethylene and HfO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

The effect of electrothermopolarization (ETP) on the structure and electrophysical properties (electret, dielectric) of polymer nanocomposites based on HDPE and hafnium oxide nanoparticles has been studied. The possibility of significant change in dielectric properties of HDPE/HfO₂ polymer nanocomposites at 3–7% nanoparticle concentration has been confirmed. The interactions of the polymer and nanoparticles are considered and the results of changes in the structure of HDPE/HfO₂ polymer nanocomposite in its volume and interphase zone before and after electrothermopolarization are presented. Spectroscopic studies of nanocomposites show that the introduction of nanoparticles is compatible in the presence of polyethylene. Results acquired via an optical microscope with magnification revealed that the nanocomposite HDPE/HfO₂ had a variety of morphology from oval, spherical, polygon, to irregular shapes depending on their snitches HDPE and HfO₂. HfO₂ affects the structure of the nanocomposites, which is observed by SEM, AFM, DSC and confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).