Influence of physical interaction between organoclay and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) matrix and effect of clay content on rheological melt state

Preparation of Well-Exfoliated Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/α-Zirconium Phosphate Nanocomposites

Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (PEVAc) nanocomposites containing exfoliated α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) have been prepared using a simple solution mixing method to improve their barrier and mechanical properties. ZrP was pre-exfoliated with a surfactant, followed by additional targeted surface functionalization and surfactant exchange to allow for hydrogen bonding of ZrP with the acetate functionality on PEVAc and to improve ZrP surface hydrophobicity. The solvent is found to play an important role in stabilizing ZrP exfoliation in the presence of PEVAc to retain full exfoliation and homogeneous dispersion upon the removal of the solvent. The PEVAc/ZrP nanocomposite exhibits greatly improved oxygen barrier, melt strength, and mechanical properties. The usefulness of the present study for the preparation of olefinic polymer nanocomposites is discussed.

Influence of Processing Conditions on Productivity, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Reprocessed Low Density Polyethylene

The market for recycled thermoplastic polymers is undergoing a sharp increase, although recyclate polymers are regarded as materials with inferior properties when compared to the virgin material. This study investigates the behavior of non-contaminated scraps of low density polyethylene (LDPE) from the plastic packaging industry after single processing stage, in terms of the productivity and the thermal and rheological properties. The LDPE used was reprocessed on a single-screw extruder (Miotto) of 90 mm screw diameter and L/D = 25. Three screw speeds (80, 90 and 100 min−1) were investigated at three processing temperatures (200, 250 and 300°C). The reprocessed materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis TGA, parallel plates rheometry and productivity. The results obtained by TGA showed a typical range of polyolefin degradation (350 to 450°C). The viscoelastic properties did not show significant changes in relation to the rheological behavior. Increasing the temperature and screw speed promoted a productivity gain of approximately 30%. This suggests that under the conditions studied it is possible to reprocess this material with good productivity ensuring its thermal, mechanical and rheological properties.

Estudo do reprocessamento de polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD) reciclado do processamento de extrusão de filmes tubulares

O mercado de reciclagem para os polímeros termoplásticos encontra-se atualmente em acentuada ascensão. Os materiais reciclados são vistos como materiais de propriedades inferiores em relação ao material virgem. O presente trabalho avaliou as características viscoelásticas e térmicas do polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD) reciclado. As amostras foram reprocessadas até dez vezes em condições extremas de processamento (300 °C/80 rpm) em uma extrusora monorosca, a fim de avaliar modificações estruturais nas suas propriedades. Foram realizadas análises de reometria oscilatória de placas paralelas e calorimetria exploratória de varredura (DSC). A partir das análises de reometria oscilatória foram calculados espectros de relaxação e retardação pelo programa de regularização não-linear (NLREG) e através das análises de DSC no primeiro aquecimento foram calculados os parâmetros cinéticos pelos métodos de Avrami e Freeman-Carroll. Os resultados do estudo reológico demonstraram que as amostras reprocessadas acima de quatro vezes apresentaram aumento da viscosidade complexa e dos módulos de armazenamento e perda, além de fenômenos de relaxação e retardação mais largos. Entretanto, os termogramas de DSC e os parâmetros cinéticos de fusão demonstraram que o PEBD estudado manteve sua estabilidade térmica, independentemente da modificação de suas características viscoelásticas.