In this work, design and development of a new melt mixing method and corresponding mixer for polymer materials were reported. Effects of ultrasonic power and sonication time on the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) filled ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites were experimentally studied. Transmission Electron Microscopy images showed that homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in intractable UHMWPE matrix is successfully realized due to the synergetic effect of ultrasonic wave and extensional deformation without any aid of other additives or solvents. Differential scanning calorimetry results revealed an increase in crystallinity and crystallization rate due to the finer dispersion of the CNTs in the matrix which act as nucleating point. Composites’ complex viscosity and storage modulus decreased sharply at first and then leveled off with the increase of sonication time or the ultrasonic power. The thermal stability and the tensile strength of the CNTs/UHMWPE nanocomposites improved by using this novel mixing method. This is the first method that combined the ultrasonic wave and the extensional deformation in which the elongation rate, sonication time and ultrasonic power can be adjusted simultaneously during mixing. The novel mixer offers several advantages such as environment-friendly, high mixing efficiency, self-cleaning and wide adaptability to materials.

在这项工作中，报道了一种设计和开发一种新的熔体混合方法以及用于聚合物材料的相应混合器。实验研究了超声功率和超声处理时间对碳纳米管（CNTs）填充的超高分子量聚乙烯（UHMWPE）纳米复合材料的影响。透射电子显微镜图像显示，由于超声波和拉伸变形的协同作用而无需任何其他添加剂或溶剂的帮助，成功地实现了碳纳米管在难处理的UHMWPE基质中的均匀分散。差示扫描量热法结果表明，由于CNT在作为成核点的基质中更细的分散，因此结晶度和结晶速率增加。复合材料的复数粘度和储能模量首先急剧下降，然后随着超声时间或超声功率的增加而趋于平稳。通过使用这种新颖的混合方法，可以提高CNTs / UHMWPE纳米复合材料的热稳定性和拉伸强度。这是将超声波与拉伸变形相结合的第一种方法，在混合过程中可以同时调节伸长率，超声处理时间和超声功率。新型混合器具有多种优点，例如环保，混合效率高，自清洁和对材料的广泛适应性。这是将超声波与拉伸变形相结合的第一种方法，在混合过程中可以同时调节伸长率，超声处理时间和超声功率。新型混合器具有多种优点，例如环保，混合效率高，自清洁和对材料的广泛适应性。这是将超声波与拉伸变形相结合的第一种方法，在混合过程中可以同时调节伸长率，超声处理时间和超声功率。新型混合器具有多种优点，例如环保，混合效率高，自清洁和对材料的广泛适应性。