Document Abstract
ANTEC Papers: 2002
Improving Polyethylene Performance - The Use of Nanocomposites in Ziegler-Natta Polyethylene for Rotational Moulding
Murphy, M.J., Martin D.J, Truss, R., and Halley, P., Materials Characterisation and Processing Centre, The University of Queensland, Department of Chemical Engineering, College Road, Brisbane, Queensland, QLD 4072. Australia.
A medium density conventional polyethylene (PE) with 1% maleic anhydride (MAH) was compounded with two different types of silicate organoclays. The modified PE was compounded using different weight loadings of each organoclay to investigate the effect of loading quantity on the materials properties. The results for the polyethylene nanocomposites show significant improvements in mechanical performance, especially at higher temperatures. Increases of over 80% in storage modulus for the PE organoclay composite resins over the conventional PE resins were recorded. D.S.C. analysis shows the PE resins with organoclay to be more crystalline in nature than the 1%MA polyethylenes.