<i>In Vitro</i> Mechanical Properties of Metallocene Linear Low Density Polyethylene (mLLDPE) Nanocomposites Incorporating Montmorillonite (MMT)

Abstract

The viability of metallocene linear low density polyethylene (mLLDPE) nanocomposites is being investigated as a new material for biomedical application. The effect of filler loadings on the ambient andin vitro(after being exposed in oxidizing condition, 37°C) mechanical properties was studied. We observed that, the mLLDPE nanocomposites have higher mechanical property values as compared to the neat mLLDPE. Furthermore, these properties were less affected by thein vitroconditions. The best ambient andin vitromechanical properties were achived when 3wt% of organically modified MMT (organo-MMT) was added into the mLLDPE. It was postulated that the presence of MMT layered structure introduced a more tortous path for the diffusing of oxidant molecules, thereby decreasing their permeability towards mLLDPE molecular chains. The smaller amount of oxidants entering the molecular chains resulted in greater retention of mechanical properties when testedin vitro. This preliminary biostability studies show promising properties of the mLLDPE nanocomposite which possess the potential to be further developed for biomedical devices.