Thermal Behavior and Degradation Kinetics of Compatibilized Metallocene-Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Nanoclay Nanocomposites

Abstract

Morphology, thermal degradation and kinetics of metallocene-linear-low-density polyethylene (m-LLDPE)/m-LLDPE-graft-maleic anhydride (m-LLDPE-g-MA)/nanoclay nanocomposites were compared with m-LLDPE/nanoclay, m-LLDPE-g-MA/nanoclay and m-LLDPE/m-LLDPE-g-MA systems. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed intercalated and “highly intercalated” morphologies for the nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that although thermal degradation of m-LLDPE systems were delayed upon the inclusion of nanoclay in air, an inverse effect was perceived for the nanoclay under inert atmosphere. This conclusion was supported by kinetic analysis in terms of reaction order and activation energy. The results obtained from kinetics models also put forward the contribution of m-LLDPE-g-MA, as a compatibilizer, to the thermal stability enhancement through inter-molecular cross-linking augmentation.

Keywords:

• Metallocene-linear low-density polyethylene
• Nanocomposites
• Thermal degradation kinetics
• Thermal stability

Notes

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