Formulating of a novel polyolefin hazy film and the origins of haze thereof

Abstract

A novel and thin polyolefin hazy film with high haze (>75%), low gloss, and high light transmittance was prepared by the blending polyethylene (PE) with polypropylene (PP) rather than the reverse applying measurements which improved clarity, although Chen and Lue et al. (Annual Technical Conference Proceedings of SPE (2004), pp 2117–2121 and 2140–2143) employed blending to reduce haze. This study also presents the low melt flow rate, high density PE1 blending with PP1, and the blending ratio of 50/50 (wt/wt), are the key factors to prepare the novel polyolefin hazy film. The major origin of total haze of the hazy film was explored. It is found that surface haze is the overwhelming majority of total haze, which is opposite to earlier works about the source of total haze of the films prepared from polymer blend. That rough surface textures was the intrinsic source yielding surface haze, and also huge surface roughness degree (Ra) was the reason of the excellent haze properties in the hazy film, was confirmed based on haze measurement, surface topology images and Ra data from haze instrument, optical microscopy, and atomic force microscope, respectively.