Tensile and thermal behaviour of linear low-density polyethylene nanocomposite films

In this work Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) filled with Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), nanocomposite films designated as LLDPE+1%GNP and LLDPE+5% GNP were manufactured using LLDPE pristine granules, 1 wt. % GNPs-LLDPE, and 5wt. % GNPs-LLDPE masterbatch granules by the extrusion-blow molding process. It was found that the ductile behaviour of neat LLDPE film and nanocomposite films are anisotropic in the machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD). The tensile strength of neat LLDPE films in the MD and TD is 25.93 & 20MPa. LLDPE+1GNPs nanocomposite films showed higher tensile strength in the MD and TD 28.38 & 23MPa, and LLDPE+5GNPs nanocomposite films showed 24.36 & 23MPa respectively. The high concentration of GNPs in LLDPE acts as plasticizers increased the elongation, reduced the strength, and increased the rate of thermal degradation. The XRD results reveal additional peeks observed in LLDPE+5GNPs nanocomposite films infer the slight change in crystallinity as compared to neat LLDPE film. This is evident in the change of tensile behaviour of nanocomposite as compared to LLDPE.