Abstract
The effect of organoclay as well as controlled dicumyl peroxide (DCP) curing on the morphology and physicomechanical properties of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene-co-methylacrylate (EMA) blends was explored in this article. The nancomposites were melt-compounded in an internal mixer, HAAKE RHEOMIX, at 140°C and a rotor speed of 60 r min−1. The nanocomposites were then cured in a compression mold at 170°C for 12 min, and their morphology and physicomechanical properties were evaluated. Exfoliated morphology was observed for DCP-treated nanocomposites. DCP initiated grafting between polymer and clay platelets resulted in high degree of reinforcement in all nanoclay-filled samples through exfoliation of clay platelets as well as interfacial cross-linking and controlled cross-linking in the two polymer phases. Reprocessability studies showed that LLDPE/EMA/Cloisite®20A nanocomposites cured with DCP up to 0.5 wt% can easily be reprocessed.
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