Physical and mechanical properties of linear low‐density polyethylene/cycloolefin copolymer/layered silicate nanocomposite

Nanocomposites based on cyclic olefin copolymer/linear low density polyethylene blends (COC/LLDPE) with various contents of three different modified organoclays (20A, 10A, and I28E) compatibilized with polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PEgMA) were prepared by met mixing. The influence of content and type of organoclay and compatibilizer on nanocomposite morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties as well as on oxygen and water vapour barrier properties was determined. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the clay dispersion, which showed a strong dependence on compatibilizer and type of organoclay. An exfoliated–intercalated morphology was obtained for compatibilized samples of C20A and I28E organoclays at 5 wt%. A less intercalated structure was obtained for samples with C10A. The exfoliated–intercalated structure was influenced both by the compatibilizer and the increase on the nanocomposite viscosity due to the COC incorporation as was determined by Rheological measurements. Mechanical analysis gave an evidence of increasing stiffness after nanoclay was added into COC/LLDPE blend matrix observing higher Young modulus for the compatibilized samples. A notorious decrease of Oxygen and Water vapour permeation rate was observed for COC/LLDPE blend films nanocomposites only when using C20A and I28E clays. These results can be useful in the design of sustainable flexible films for the packaging requirements of specific types of food. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:3167–3174, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers