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Synthesis and characterization of polyethylene/oxidized polyethylene miscible blends and role of OPE as a viscosity control
Author(s) -
Iqbal Muhammad Z.,
Abdala Ahmed A.,
Liberatore Matthew W.
Publication year - 2016
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.43521
Subject(s) - miscibility , materials science , polyethylene , polymer blend , rheology , lamellar structure , polymer , polymer chemistry , linear low density polyethylene , viscosity , thermal stability , composite material , chemical engineering , copolymer , engineering
Polymer blending allows for new materials to be designed with unique properties. Here, blends of linear low density polyethylene (PE) and oxidized polyethylene (OPE) have been prepared. PE/OPE blends are characterized for their molten state properties by thermal analysis and rheology; the solid state properties are studied by scattering, diffraction, and tensile testing. Melt miscibility was confirmed by a negative Flory‐Huggins interaction parameter (χ ∼ −2.3) from Hoffman‐Weeks plots. Additionally, a continuous decrease in melting temperature (from 123 to 119 °C) and thermal stability of blends (25% weight loss from 454 to 416 °C) was observed with increasing OPE loading from 0 to 50 wt %. Time‐temperature master curves revealed the shifting of the glassy region to higher frequencies and formation of relaxed polymer chains in the glassy region. A plasticization effect was observed with zero shear viscosity of the blends decreasing with increasing OPE loading. Finally, a decrease in lamellar thickness of PE (from 180 to 140 Å) with increasing OPE resulted in increasing the blends' brittleness. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 43521.