NANOINDENTATION AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE/ZnO NANOPARTICLES COMPOSITES

This article studies the effects of nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) on the structure, nano-indentation and optical properties of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). The nanocomposite samples were prepared by melt-blending process. The nanoparticles were added with different ratio 0.5, 1 and 2 % wt/wt. The nanocomposites were characterized using X- ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). As well as the dispersion of the nanoparticles were examined by the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM).The effect of different content of nanoparticles on the nano-mechanical properties was investigated by a nanoindentation test method. Spectrophotometric measurements of the transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence in the wavelength range of 200 - 2200 nm were used to study the optical properties. As well as, we determine different optical parameters and the energy gap for the samples under investigation. FTIR and X-ray proved the presence of ZnO, while the FESEM results showed good dispersion of ZnO in HDPE matrix. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were improved; nanohardness and elastic modulus of nanocomposites samples improved than pure HDPE. The analysis of absorption coefficient for the samples indicated allowed direct transition and the energy gap increase with increasing of the ZnO wt%.