PE /organoclay Nanocomposites and PE/organoclay Nanocomposite Cast films: StructureDevelopment and Tensile Properties

Polyethylene/organocaly nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending in Brabender internal mixer (with normal capacity 60 cc), Haak internal mixer (with normal capacity 350 cc) and Brabender twin screw extruder. Two different feeding methodcontaining simultaneous andcompatibilizer/organoclay masterbatch feeding wereused. Form the viscoelastic measurements and XRD results, it was shown that there is a greater potential for twin screw extruder in melt intercalation of organoclay as compared to internal mixers. The sample prepared by simultaneous feeding resulted in better dispersion and intercalation of the organoclay than that of sample prepared by compatibilizer (LLDPE-g-MA)/organoclay masterbatch feeding. Scaling behavior of the PE/organoclay linear viscoelastic properties based on apparent yield stress was used to determine the fractal dimension of the organoclay network within the PE matrix to quantify organoclay dispersion. It was demonstrated that there is a close relationship between the draw ratio and linear melt viscoelastic behavior of LLDPE/organoclay cast films. Tensile test showed while the incorporation of organoclay into cast films increased the machine direction modulus and yield strength values, the increase of draw ratio decreased the values of these properties.

Keywords:

Polyethtylene , film , organoclay , structure , tensile test