Graduation Semester and Year
2022
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Department
Materials Science and Engineering
First Advisor
Michael Bozlar
Second Advisor
Suk Kyung Yum
Abstract
High-Density Polyethylene uniquely can induce banded spherulites as it is crystallized from its melt. We studied the effects of graphene in the crystallography of banded HDPE by examining parameters such as the extent of twisting, spherulitic growth, and nucleation density. The application of graphene as a multifunctional filler in polymer matrices is a great topic of interest because graphene at low concentrations can bring many improvements in mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. We synthesized graphene oxide by chemical oxidation of graphite and further studied its effects in the twisted crystallography of HDPE. Three batches of fibers were extruded: two batches with different concentrations of graphene and a neat HDPE for cross-examination. The HDPE microfibers were produced using a twin-screw extruder/micro-compounder. The fibers were analyzed using characterization techniques such as Polarized Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction.
Keywords
Polyethylene, Graphene, Twisting, Spherulites, Microfibers, Composites
Disciplines
Engineering | Materials Science and Engineering
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Sivadas Anilal, Ashish Lal, "Effects of Graphene in High-Density Polyethylene Microfibers" (2022). Material Science and Engineering Theses. 109.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/materialscieng_theses/109
Comments
Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington