Abstract Highly filled high-density polyethylene/alumina (HDPE/Al2O3) composites were fabricated by melt mixing with direct incorporation of poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic)-based ionomer (EMAA-Na) as an interfacial compatibilizer. SEM and EDX micrographs indicate EMAA-Na interfacial adhesion on the Al2O3 spheres. Under low EMAA-Na content conditions, the FT-IR characterization and an EMAA-Na neutralization degree analysis revealed the priority of the melt neutralization interaction between the acid groups of the ionomer and the Al2O3 spheres in the composite. Under high EMAA-Na content conditions, an AFM phase characterization revealed the formation of an EMAA-Na ionomer spherical domain (∼300 nm) dispersed in an HDPE matrix due to the microphase separation of ionic chains. Capillary and dynamic rheology measurements were also conducted to investigate the phase morphology evolution. The polymeric adhesion on the Al2O3 sphere surfaces contributed to the increase of the melt viscosity and gradual elongation thickening behavior of the composite melts. The formed spherical domain structure of EMAA-Na of the composite melts contributed to the shear thickening, elongation thickening and yield behavior. Three rheology criteria plots indicate large complex formation in the composite melts. The EMAA-Na incorporation in the highly filled HDPE/Al2O3 composite matrix not only improved the strength and toughness performance, with a 27% improvement in the elongation at break (EMAA-Na content 1 wt.%) and 21% improvement in the tensile strength (EMAA-Na content 10 wt.%), but also preserved the good thermal conductivity (∼1.5 W/(m·K)). This study reveals the potential application of the EMAA-Na ionomer to resolve the challenge of the strength and toughness performance degradation in highly filled polymer composites.

中文翻译：

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离聚物界面增容对高填充 HDPE/Al2O3/离聚物复合材料的影响：形态学和流变行为

摘要 通过熔融混合制备高填充高密度聚乙烯/氧化铝 (HDPE/Al2O3) 复合材料，并直接掺入聚（乙烯-共聚-甲基丙烯酸）基离聚物 (EMAA-Na) 作为界面增容剂。SEM 和 EDX 显微照片表明 EMAA-Na 界面粘附在 Al2O3 球体上。在低 EMAA-Na 含量条件下，FT-IR 表征和 EMAA-Na 中和度分析揭示了离聚物的酸基团与复合材料中的 Al2O3 球体之间的熔体中和相互作用优先。在高 EMAA-Na 含量条件下，AFM 相表征表明，由于离子链的微相分离，形成了分散在 HDPE 基质中的 EMAA-Na 离聚物球形域（~300 nm）。还进行了毛细管和动态流变测量以研究相形态演变。Al2O3 球体表面上的聚合物粘附有助于提高复合熔体的熔体粘度和逐渐伸长增稠行为。复合熔体形成的 EMAA-Na 球形域结构有助于剪切增稠、伸长增稠和屈服行为。三个流变学标准图表明复合熔体中形成了大量的复合物。高填充 HDPE/Al2O3 复合基体中的 EMAA-Na 掺入不仅提高了强度和韧性性能，断裂伸长率提高了 27%（EMAA-Na 含量为 1 wt.%），拉伸强度提高了 21%强度（EMAA-Na 含量为 10 wt.%），但也保持了良好的导热性（~1. 5 W/(m·K))。这项研究揭示了 EMAA-Na 离聚物在解决高填充聚合物复合材料强度和韧性性能下降的挑战方面的潜在应用。