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Effects of different compatibilizers on the rheological, thermomechanical, and morphological properties of HDPE/LLDPE blend‐based nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Passador Fabio Roberto,
RuvoloFilho Adhemar Collà,
Pessan Luiz Antonio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.39265
Subject(s) - linear low density polyethylene , materials science , maleic anhydride , high density polyethylene , composite material , nanocomposite , exfoliation joint , masterbatch , crystallinity , organoclay , polyethylene , polymer , copolymer , graphene , nanotechnology
The influence of two different compatibilizers and their combination (maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene, HDPE‐ g ‐MA; maleic anhydride grafted linear low density polyethylene, LLDPE‐ g ‐MA; and 50/50 wt % mixture of these compatibilizers) on the rheological, thermomechanical, and morphological properties of HDPE/LLDPE/organoclay blend‐based nanocomposites was evaluated. Nanocomposites were obtained by melt‐intercalation in a torque rheometer in two steps. Masterbatches (compatibilizer/nanoclay 2:1) were obtained and subsequently diluted in the HDPE/LLDPE matrix producing nanocomposites with 2.5 wt % of nanoclay. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), steady‐state rheological properties, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to determine the influence of different compatibilizer systems on intercalation and/or exfoliation process which occurs preferentially in the amorphous phase, and thermomechanical properties. The LLDPE‐ g ‐MA with a high melt index (and consequently low viscosity and crystallinity) was an effective compatibilizer for this system. Furthermore, the compatibilized nanocomposites with LLDPE‐ g ‐MA or mixture of HDPE‐ g ‐MA and LLDPE‐ g ‐MA exhibited better nanoclay's dispersion and distribution with stronger interactions between the matrix and the nanoclay. These results indicated that the addition of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene facilitates both, the exfoliation and/or intercalation of the clays and its adhesion to HDPE/LLDPE blend. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1726–1735, 2013