The effect of the branch content (BC) and composition distribution (CD) of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) on the thermal and mechanical properties of its blends with LDPE were studied. All blends and pure resins were conditioned in a Haake PolyDrive blender at 190°C and in the presence of adequate amounts of antioxidant. Two metallocene LLDPEs (m-LLDPE) and one Ziegler–Natta (ZN) hexen...

In this paper, the implications of melt compatibility on thermal and solid-state properties of linear low density polyethylene/high density polyethylene (LLDPE/HDPE) blends were assessed with respect to the effect of composition distribution (CD) and branch content (BC). The effect of CD was studied by melt blending a metallocene (m-LLDPE) and a Ziegler-Natta (ZN) LLDPE with the same HDPE at 19...

Porous superhydrophobic linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) surface was prepared by a simple method. Its water contact angle and sliding angle were 153±2° and 10°, respectively. After contamination, 99% of the contaminant particles were removed from the superhydrophobic LLDPE surface using artificial rain. The superhydrophobic LLDPE surface showed high stability in the pH range from 2 to 13...

The plasma source ion implantation (PSII) technique was used to improve the adhesion between linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and biopolymer. LLDPE was treated with the PSII using O(2) or CF(4) gas to modify its surface. After modification, chitosan or corn zein was used for coating on LLDPE. Wettability of the LLDPE surface was evaluated with a contact angle meter by the sessile drop me...

It is estimated that 60 to 70% of LLDPE enters the market as blends (Utracki 1989a), primarily with other members of the polyolefin family, e.g., LDPE or polypropylene (PP). Despite the long history of polyethylene (PE) blending and its widespread use, many questions about the homogeneity of such blends, with obvious implications for thermodynamics and for the rheology, are still not answered t...

Barrier systems are designed to control contaminant migration. Geomembranes are commonly used as part of a composite liner in landfill cover, base liner systems and sometimes vapour barriers. In landfill applications, the primary function of the geomembrane liner is to control contaminant transport from the leachate (dissolved phase) and landfill gas (vapour phase) out of the landfill thus mini...

In this work, the grafting of maleic anhydride onto two types of linear low density polyethylene with hexene-1 comonomer (LLDPE-H1) and butene-1 comonomer (LLDPE-B1), in the presence of styrene monomer (St) and dicumyl peroxide initiator (DCP) has been studied. The combined influences of MAH, St and DCP on the grafting efficiency via a melt reactive mixing process have been investigated using r...

The objectives of this technical note are to review the gas transport mechanisms through flexible geomembranes, and to measure the methane gas transmission rate, permeance, and permeability coefficient of PVC, LLDPE, and HDPE geomembranes by performing the standard gas transport test (ASTM D1434). The measured methane gas permeability coefficient through a PVC geomembrane is 7.55 3 10 ml(STP).m...

In this paper we report on some surprising, and we believe new, findings regarding the factors affecting the optical properties (haze) of polyethylene (PE) blown and cast films. A comprehensive investigation of blown and cast films made from conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyzed linear low density PE (LLDPE) as well as metallocene-catalyzed LLDPE (mLLDPE) resins was conducted. The large majority...

In previous work, flow visualization was used to understand how polymer processing additives (PPA) eliminate sharkskin in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The PPA migrates to and coats the die wall, induces slippage, and eliminates sharkskin. In this work, the interface between the PPA and LLDPE was further characterized using reflection light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, e...