pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S01 - Blow Molding, Thermoforming and Rotomolding
Oral Presentation
 
 

Understanding the role of a flow modifier additive in polyethylene/carbon nanotubes-based formulations for the manufacturing by rotational molding of electrically dissipative parts at reduced CNT content

Lison Valérie (1)*, Rul Alicia (1), Hurtgen Marie (1), De Villepin Cédric (1), Claes Michaël (1)

(1) Nanocyl - Sambreville - Belgium

Nowadays, the most commonly used approach to produce economically hollow plastic items of any size, open or closed and of any desired shape is the rotational molding. Rotationally molded parts are used in practically every market sector including automotive, agricultural, furniture, packaging, sports and leisure, water treatment, marine or construction industries. For some applications, a static discharge protection is required, for examples; in fuel system components to prevent sparks which may cause an explosion or fires in flammable environments; in packaging to avoid damage or destroy of sensitive electronic parts,... In this purpose, carbon nanotubes (CNT) used as additives in most thermoplastics are well known to be beneficial and efficient at low content. However, unlike most of the end-converting processes (e.g. injection or extrusion), rotational molding is a shear-free process which may play an important role on the properties and quality of the final parts. Therefore, in this study, CNT-based formulations will be fine-tuned especially in terms of melt viscosity in order to enhance the sintering step and to fulfill all requirements of the targeted applications such as surface resistivity, aspect surface, layer thickness or mechanical performances. The selection of the flow modifier additive will be performed with the help of rheological measurements. The contribution will focus on polyethylene-based materials since it accounts for more than 85 % of the volume in rotational molding market. Nevertheless, the principles studied and demonstrated in this work could be used to further developments of other CNT-based formulations with tailored electrical conductivities for examples in nylon, polypropylene, polycarbonate or polyurethane resins.