Influence of intercalated montmorillonite/polyethylene glycol binary processing aids on the rheological and mechanical properties of metallocene linear low-density polyethylene

Organomodified Na+-montmorillonite/polyethylene glycol (PEG) processing aids were prepared. Melt compounding was used to prepare nanocomposites of exfoliated montmorillonite platelets dispersing in a metallocene linear low-density polyethylene (mLLDPE) matrix. The extent of intercalation of PEG into montmorillonite layers and clay platelet exfoliation in the mLLDPE matrix was studied by X-ray diffraction. The influence of montmorillonite/PEG binary processing aids on the rheological properties and sharkskin melt fracture of mLLDPE was studied using a capillary rheometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The crystallization and melting characters were also studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction.