AMDe Lab of the Physics Department of AUTH, in collaboration with BikiarisLab and the Ceramics and Composites Laboratory of the University of Ioannina published a new paper, as part of the dissemination of the results of the project SETHYEA. The main objective of SETHYEA is the production of low cost, energy-efficient cross-linked polyethylene pipes for geothermal applications.
In the paper "Graphite reinforced silane crosslinked high density polyethylene: The effect of filler loading on the thermal and mechanical properties", spherical graphite-reinforced PEX composites with different amounts of filler are reported.
Abstract
Crosslinked polyethylene is a promising polymer regarding its mechanical properties and wear resistance, predominantly used in pipework systems. However, it suffers from low thermal conductivity, which limits its application in geothermal heating/cooling systems. In this work, crosslinked high‐density polyethylene (PEX) composites with spherical graphite (SG) as a reinforcing filler are examined in terms of their thermal and mechanical properties. Thermal conductivity measurements showed a significant improvement of the thermal conductivity of PEX with increasing filler content (40.6% augmentation for 5 wt% SG content), while the experimental data are in good agreement with the Chauhan theoretical model for spherical particles. Tensile tests revealed that the elastic modulus of PEX/SG composites presented a considerable improvement (23.6% augmentation for 5 wt% SG content). Various micromechanical models for the prediction of the composites' elastic behavior were applied to the experimental data, which present a satisfactory agreement with the Takayanagi I two‐phase model for low concentrations of SG, and the Takayanagi II two‐phase model for higher filler content.
To read the full paper, click here($).
This research has been co‐financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH‐CREATE‐INNOVATE (project code: T1EDK‐ 02611).
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