Obtaining hybrid composite HDPE/mALGAS/MMT-Ag/PE-g-MAH
High density polyethylene; microalgae; montmorillonite clay; silver nanoparticles; hybrid composites; interfacial interaction
Polymeric hybrid composites are formed by several phases of different compositions, in which the interfacial interaction between these materials is one of the factors that determine the final properties. The study of interfacial modifications is extremely important for the development of a material with technical quality for use. The objective of this work was to obtain hybrid composites with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix, varying the compositions and types of fillers, that is, microalgae (mALGAS), organophilic montmorillonite clay (MMT), montmorillonite clay treated with nanoparticles silver (MMT-Ag) and the use of polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH), as an interfacial compatibilization agent, aiming to study interfacial interactions correlated with the mechanical and rheological properties of polymer hybrid composites. Bulk formulations were varied from 2 and 4 wt% mALGAS, 2 and 4 wt% MMT, 3 wt% MMT-Ag and 3 wt% PE-g-MAH. The mixtures were made in a twin-screw extruder and test specimens were produced by injection molding. Material characterizations were carried out by measurements of fluidity index (MFI), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), uniaxial tensile and Shore D hardness. The results showed that mALGAS contribute to an increase in fluidity, while MMT decreases fluidity during processing in the melt state. Hybrid composites using PE-g-MAH showed lower fluidity, whereas HDPE/MMT/PE-g-MAH composites showed lower fluidity, that is, the results showed the reactive interaction of maleic anhydride with mALGAS and MMT. The mechanical characterizations evaluated the influence of the shape, types of fillers and interfacial reaction on the properties of the HDPE/mALGAS/MMT-Ag/PE-g-MAH hybrid composites, resulting in a good synergism of properties of the studied polymeric hybrid composite.