From morphology of attrited copper/MWCNT hybrid fillers to thermal and mechanical characteristics of their respective polymer-matrix composites: an analytical and experimental study

Synergistic effect of copper and multiwalled carbon nanotube on thermal and mechanical properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-matrix composite was evaluated. Attrition mill was employed to prepare the hybrid powder. Reinforcing the polymer-matrix was carried out using different contents of simultaneously (Sim) and separately (Sep) milled powders as hybrid fillers. X-ray diffraction and microscopy results show different trends of particle size for Sep and Sim affected by both milling time and volume fraction ratio. Thermal characterization indicates that conductivity was enhanced by 90% and thermal expansion was reduced to 53% of neat HDPE. Young's modulus and tensile strength were improved by 7.8 and 1.22 times of neat HDPE, respectively. Also, characteristics of Sim-reinforced composites exhibited better correlated relation with milling time compared with erratic behavior of Sep.