Effect of compatabilizer and clay content on microstructure development of LDPE-base nanocomposite

In recent years, most studies focusing on polymer nanocomposites have shown that organically modified clays can easily be intercalated and well dispersed in polar polymers like polyamides [1]. Conversely, for the more commonly used polyolefins, the obtaining of nanocomposites with desirable microstructure (leading to exfoliated microstructure) is much more difficult [2].In the most research works reported on the polypropylene/organoclay nanocomposites prepared by the melt compounding, the PP-g-MA has been used as compatibilizer [3]. However few studies carried out on Polyethylene/organoclay nanocomposites have shown, lower degree of success in achieving desirable intercalation for PE matrix compare to PP due to PE molecular structure [4]. The aim of the present work was to study the role of compatibilizer (LL-g-MA) and organoclay content on microstructure development of LDPE/organoclay by using XRD technique in conjunction with melt linear viscoealstic measurement