The effects of magnesium oxide on the thermal, morphological, and crystallinity properties of metallocene linear low-density polyethylene/rubbers composite

Abstract

Abstract The effects on the thermal, morphological, and crystallinity properties of the different loadings of magnesium oxide (MgO) blended with 10% rubbers [9:1 natural rubber (NR)/epoxidized NR] and metallocene linear low-density polyethylene (mLLDPE) in the presence of N,N-m-phenylenebismaleimide (HVA-2) compatibilizer were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the epoxy and double-bond groups were absent in the blends. The crystallinity degree of mLLDPE composites were determined based on the results of differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallinity of the blends was continuously increased by the loading of MgO compared with blend of 0 phr MgO. Based on thermogravimetric analysis, the degradation temperature of NR in the blends with MgO is significantly enhanced compared with a pure NR and 0 phr MgO blend. The observations of the scanning electron micrographs indicate that the HVA-2 had caused a cross-linking reaction in the rubber phase and the domains of the MgO are separated from the continuous phase (mLLDPE).