pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S06 - Nanocomposites
Oral Presentation
 
 

Improvement of barrier properties of rotomolded PE containers with nanoclay

Jamshidi Shadi (1), Sundararaj Uttandaraman (1)*

(1) University of Calgary - Alberta - Canada

Polyethylene (PE) is widely used to make the bulk container in rotational molding process. The challenge in this study is to improve permeation resistance to hydrocarbon solvents and gases of PE. Adding organomodified clay improves the thermal, barrier and mechanical properties of PE. In fact, clay layers create a tortuous path against the permeant, yielding better barrier properties. Due to the non-polar hydrophobic nature of PE and polar hydrophilic structure of clay minerals, the compatibilizer plays a crucial role to enhance the dispersion level of clay in the matrix. In this study High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) layered silicate nanocomoposite were melt-compounded with two concentration of organomodified clay (2 and 4 weight %). The interaction between nanoclay, compatibilizer and rotomolding grade of PE were examined by using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mechanical test. The rheology tests have been also used to determine the performance of our material at low shear processing condition. Lab-scale rotation molding finally has been performed on the best PE nanocomposite samples afterwards the solvent and gas permeability of the final product were measured.