Effect of organo-montmorillonite addition on the dynamic and capillary rheology of LLDPE/EMA blends

The effect of organo-montmorillonite Closite®20A on the rheological behavior of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA) blends was investigated under dynamic and steady shear flow (in a capillary) conditions. Cloisite®20A was melt blended with LLDPE/EMA blends at 1, 3, 5 and 7 mass% loading, by varying the sequence of addition. Both the filled and unfilled blends showed non-Newtonian behavior. With increasing frequency, the elastic response of both filled and unfilled blends increased. The activation energy of flow for neat LLDPE/EMA blend increased with the addition of Cloisite. There was a good correlation between the dynamic rheology and steady shear rheology of LLDPE/EMA/Closite nanocomposites. Finally, the rheological behavior was correlated with the morphological studies. There was a good correlation between the rheological behavior and morphology of the nanocomposites.