Studies on mechanical properties of dispersing intercalated silane montmorillonite in low density polyethylene matrix

In order to understand and improve these soft and weak mechanical properties of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), we add a silane modifier (Nanocor I.31PS) Montmorillonite (MMT) as reinforcement material, inserted with two kinds of different surfactant (thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPO) or Maleic Anhydride (MA)), the layer distance and hydrophobia are all best; to join the pieces of LDPE together, making it possess polarization. After that, we use a Plastograph-Mixer by the twin-screw mixed method to obtain standard shaped specimens of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites (PCN) to prepare HDPE/MMT nanocomposite pellets. By adding the different weight percentages (1, 3, and 5 wt.%) of MMT, and 2:1 ratio of MA (or TPO) and MMT, the layer distance of MMT and mechanical property of nanocomposites were investigated. The chemical structure and polymer morphology of these as-synthesized PCN specimens were characterized by wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, we prepare these experimental specimens in order to probe into its mechanical properties. These tests used are: layer distance of PCN, tensile, impact, shore-hardness, wearing tests, and so on. In addition, we use XRD to make the characterization analysis, compare it to scatter and layer-distance. It is found that when increasing the TPO into the MMT, layer-distance at 1 wt.% MMT increases from 2.11 nm to 3.14 nm. It is found that these specimens that graft the TPO have the following results: In the tensile test, the MMT weight percentage of 1 wt.% has the best result, increased by 3.08%. In the impact test, the MMT 3 wt.% strengthens by 11.53%. In the hardness test, the MMT 5 wt.% strengthens the effect by 2.60%. In the wearing tests, the MMT 5 wt.% strengthens the effect by 6.98%. In addition, the specimens that graft the MA have the following results: In the tensile test, the MMT 1 wt.% strengthens by 5.39%. In the impact test, the MMT 3 wt.% strengthens by 19.71%. In the hardness test, the MMT 5 wt.% strengthens by 10.85%. In the wearing tests, the MMT 5 wt.% strengthens the effect by 44.19%.