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AuthorSobolčiak, Patrik
AuthorAbdulgader, Asma
AuthorMrlik, Miroslav
AuthorPopelka, Anton
AuthorA. Abdala, Ahmed
AuthorA. Aboukhlewa, Abdelnasser
AuthorKarkri, Mustapha
AuthorKiepfer, Hendrik
AuthorBart, Hans-Jörg
AuthorKrupa, Igor
Available date2023-06-26T04:54:19Z
Publication Date2020
Publication NamePolymers
ResourceScopus
URIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym12122863
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/44822
AbstractComposites of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and expanded graphite (EG) are prepared for heat exchangers in multi-effect distillation (MED) desalination. At 50 wt.% EG loading, the thermal conductivity of HDPE was increased by 372%. Moreover, the surface wettability of the HDPE/EG composite was enhanced by corona and RF plasma treatment as demonstrated by the increase in surface free energy from 28.5 mJ/m2 for untreated HDPE/EG to 55.5 and 54.5 mJ/m2 for HDPE/EG treated by corona and RF plasma, respectively. This enhanced surface wettability was retained over a long time with only a 9% and 18% decrease in RF and corona plasma-treated samples' surface energy after two months. The viscoelastic moduli and the complex viscosity profiles indicated that EG content dictates the optimum processing technique. At loading below 30 wt.%, the extrusion process is preferred, while above 30 wt.% loading, injection molding is preferred. The plasma treatment also improved the HDPE/EG composite overall heat transfer coefficient with an overall heat transfer coefficient of the composite reaching about 98% that of stainless steel. Moreover, the plasma-treated composite exhibited superior resistance to crystallization fouling in both CaSO4 solution and artificial seawater compared to untreated composites and stainless-steel surfaces.
SponsorFunding: This work was made possible by NPRP grant No.: NPRP10-0205-170349 from the Qatar National Research Fund (A Member of the Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. Acknowledgments: SEM was accomplished in the Central Laboratories unit, Qatar University. Author M.M.gratefully acknowledge the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic-DKRVO (RP/CPS/2020/003).
Languageen
PublisherMDPI AG
SubjectExpanded graphite
High density polyethylene
Multi-effect distillation
Plasma treatment
Polymeric composites
Scaling
TitleThermally conductive polyethylene/expanded graphite composites as heat transfer surface: Mechanical, thermo-physical and surface behavior
TypeArticle
Pagination1-19
Issue Number12
Volume Number12
dc.accessType Open Access


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