High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) / Exfoliated Graphite (EFG) 나노복합필름 제조와 특성에 관한 연구

Preparation and Characterization of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)/Exfoliated Graphite (EFG) Nanocomposite Films

고밀도 폴리에틸렌(High density polyethylene, HDPE)을 수분에 민감한 전기전자제품, 의약품 등을 위한 하이배리어 패키징 소재로써 적용하기 위해서 높은 가로세로비(High aspect ratio)를 가진 Exfoliated graphite (이하 EFG)를 필러로 도입하였다. 또한, 효과적인 분산성과 혼화성을 위해서 상용화제를 첨가하여 HDPE/EFG 나노복합필름을 제조하였다. HDPE/EFG 나노복합필름의 EFG 함량에 따른 화학적 특성, 모폴로지(Morphology), 열적 특성 및 수분차단 특성을 조사하였다. HDPE와 EFG 사이에 화학적 결합이나 상호작용이 약하지만, EFG를 첨가함에 따라 수증기 투과도는 127에서 78 (70 ${\mu}m{\cdot}g/m^2$, $day{\cdot}atm$)까지 감소되었다. 특히, HDPE/EFG 나노복합필름은 EFG의 함량이 0.5%일 때 가장 효과적이며, 그 이상의 함량에서는 물성이 향상되지 않았다. 따라서, 물성의 극대화를 위해서는 EFG의 분산성 향상 및 HDPE와 EFG의 화학적 결합 등의 혼화성 개선에 관한 추가적인 연구가 필요하다.

Exfoliated graphite (EFG) with high aspect ratio was incorporated with high density polyethylene (HDPE) for use as high barrier packaging material such as water-sensitivity electric product and pharmaceutical packaging. Also HDPE/EFG nanocomposite films were prepared by adding the compatibilizer for effective dispersion and compatibility. Their chemical properties, crystal structure properties, thermal properties and water barrier properties of as-prepared HDPE/EFG nanocomposite films were investigated as a function of EFG contents. It showed that there is a weak interfacial interaction between HDPE and EFG, however, the water vapor permeations were decreased from 127 to 78 (70 ${\mu}m{\cdot}g/m^2$, $day{\cdot}atm$) by addition of EFG. Especially, the physical properties of HDPE/EFG nanocomposite films were effectively increased up to 0.5 wt%, however, there were no significant improvement of properties in nanocomposite films at the additional EFG loading. To maximize their performance of the nanocomposite films, further research is required to enhance the dispersion of EFG and compatibility of EFG in HDPE matrix.