Contact angle and surface free energy of electron-beam irradiated polymer composites

Abstract

Contact angle and surface free energy of electron-beam irradiated polymer composites Summary-The effects of the electron radiation dose and of compatibilizers on the contact angle and surface free energy (SFE) of the composites made of low-density polyethylene (PE-LD), high-density polyethylene (PE-HD), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were studied. Use of the high-energy electron radiation with doses up to 300 kGy and of compatibilizers was done to reach better mechanical and adhesion properties of the composites studied and, at the same time, to investigate the possibility of applying of this technique in the processes of polymeric materials recycling. The compatibilizers were the styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene elastomer grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA), added at the amounts of 5, 10 or 15 wt. %, and trimethylol propane trimethylacrylate (TMPTA), added at the amounts of 1, 2 or 3 wt. %. The effects, discussed in the present article, are: enhancement of wettability and increase in SFE of the composites studied. It was found that the contact angle steadily decreased and SFE of the composites increased with the rising dose of the electron radiation and that TMPTA intensified these tendencies.

Structural Insights into LDPE/UHMWPE Blends Processed by γ-Irradiation

“…The contact angle measurements revealed the influence of molecule fragmentation, which produced an increase in wettability proved by the reduction in the contact angle values [ 81 ]. All the studied compositions of LDPE-based blends showed this tendency ( Figure 11 ), but the diminishing degrees depended on the presence of the fillers, HAp and RM, which mitigated alteration in superficial tension.…”

Evaluation of the contact angle and wettability of hydrophobised lightweight concrete with sawdust

“…For example, CA is affected by the type of measuring liquid or droplet sizes of measuring liquids. The surface homogeneity, contamination and surface roughness, longitudinal elasticity coefficient of material which is being tested, ambient temperature or humidity also have an influence on CA [43,44].…”