Preparation of nacrite nanorolls and their reinforcing effect in LLDPE matrix

Nacrite nanorolls were prepared by the delamination and rolling of the platy nacrite particles and the nacrite nanorolls were melt‐compounded with LLDPE to prepare a novel Nacrite/LLDPE composite. In this method, hexylamine was intercalated into the interlayer space of methoxy‐modified nacrite precursor and the deintercalation of nacrite‐hexylamine intercalation complex in toluene resulted in the delamination and rolling of nacrite layers. The nacrite nanorolls were composed with linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) to prepare a novel Nacrite/LLDPE composite. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N₂ adsorption–desorption test were used to evaluate the prepared nacrite nanorolls. The results showed that the interlayer octahedral surface of nacrite was grafted with methanol and the methoxy‐modified nacrite was intercalated with hexylamine. The deintercalation of nacrite‐hexylamine intercalation complex in toluene disturbed the orderly arrangement of nacrite layers, leading to a delamination of the layered particles and subsequent formation of aluminosilicate nanorolls. The specific surface area (SSA) and V_por value of nacrite nanorolls reached 34.69 m²/g and 0.22 cm³/g (4.52 m²/g and 0.13 cm³/g for raw nacrite). Furthermore, the mechanical properties test confirmed that the introduction of nacrite nanorolls into LLDPE matrix could improve the tensile and tear strength. 6.4% and 6.8% higher tensile strength than the pure LLDPE were observed for Nacrite/LLDPE composite with 2 wt% and 4 wt% nacrite nanorolls filler. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:448–456, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers