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Polyethylene Nanocomposite Heat‐Sealants with a Versatile Peelable Character
Author(s) -
Manias Evangelos,
Zhang Jinguo,
Huh Jin Young,
Manokruang Kiattikhun,
Songtipya Ponusa,
JimenezGasco Maria Mar
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200800553
Subject(s) - nanocomposite , materials science , polyethylene , composite material , character (mathematics) , polymer science , polymer chemistry , mathematics , geometry
A novel heat‐sealing performance is achieved by polyethylene (PE) nanocomposites reinforced by ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and montmorillonite (MMT). Appropriate nanocomposite design leads to hermetic seals with a general peelable/easy‐open character across the broadest possible sealing temperature range. Observations of the fracture seal surfaces by infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy reveal that this behavior originates from a synergistic effect of the EVA copolymer and the montmorillonite clay nanofiller. Namely, the combination of EVA‐copolymers and MMT nanofillers provides sufficiently favorable interactions for nanocomposite formation and mechanical robustness, but weak enough interfacial adhesion to promote a general cohesive failure of the sealant at the EVA/MMT interfaces.