Nanoclay
is increasingly used in plastics to enhance
mechanical properties at a very low level of
addition. Generally nanoclay is incorporated
at less than 5% level. It eliminates surface
melt fracture and postpones the critical shear
rate for the onset of gross melt fracture to
significantly higher values depending on resin
type, temperature and additive concentration
(typically 0.05 to 0.5 wt%). However at higher
levels of about 5%, the beneficial effect on
processability of linear olefin polymers like
that of LLDPE, HDPE and PP is eliminated. It
is also observed that the combination of nanoclays
with traditional processing aids such as fluoropolymers
produce an enhanced processing aid that can
increase the critical shear rates for the onset
of melt fracture to levels much higher than
the individual constituents when they are used
independently.
(
A publication of Society
of Plastics Engineers, USA)