Thermo-oxidative resistant nanocomposites containing novel hybrid-nanoparticles based on natural polyphenol and carbon nanotubes

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability 2015-05, Vol.115, p.129-137
• Main Authors: Arrigo, R., Dintcheva, N. Tz, Guenzi, M., Gambarotti, C., Filippone, G., Coiai, S., Carroccio, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; Quercetin; Thermo-oxidation resistance; Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.02.014

Quercetin (Q), a natural antioxidant molecule, is physically immobilized onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) bearing covalently-linked long-chain alkyl functional groups, and the so obtained hybrid-nanoparticles are used to prepare Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene-based nanocomposite films with enhanced thermo-oxidation resistance. The effective immobilization of the Q molecules is confirmed by spectroscopic (micro-Raman, ATR-FTIR, and FTIR) and thermo-gravimetric analyses, and the influence of the nanoparticles on the rheological behaviour and thermo-oxidative stability of the nanocomposites are investigated. Rheological analyses (linear viscoelasticity and stress relaxation tests) and morphological observations reveal that the Q-functionalized CNTs disperse better than bare CNTs in the host matrix. Quercetin confirms to be an excellent anti-oxidant for polyethylene, but the study of the thermo-oxidation behaviour shows that a remarkable stabilizing action only emerges when Q is physically immobilized on the CNTs. In particular, a ten-fold increase of the onset of degradation phenomena in thermo-oxidative environment was found. Such an excellent result is due to a synergic effect stemming from the physical interaction between Q and CNTs, which cannot provide a similar stabilizing action if used separately. In particular, we argue that the process of physical immobilization of the Q molecules causes the formation of structural defects onto outer CNTs surfaces, thus remarkably improving the CNTs radical scavenging activity and probably promoting Q regeneration. In addition, CNTs seem acting as efficient nano-carriers for the quercetin molecules, improving the dispersion of the latter in the host matrix in spite of their poor solubility.