Preraration, structure and crystallization of modified LDH/polyethylene nanocomposites

Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) was modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by regeneration method. Modified LDH/polyethylene (SDS-LDH/PE) composites were prepared by melt blending and solution mixing method. Maleated polyethylene (PEgMA) was used to improve the compatibility between LDH and polyethylene (PE). The structure and the crystallization of composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The results reveal that SDS-LDH was hardly exfoliated in PE or PEgMA/PE by melt blending. SDS-LDH/PEgMA/PE nanocomposites were successfully prepared by melt blending PE with SDS-LDH/PEgMA master-batch obtained by solution mixing. The structure of composites exerts strong influences on their crystallization behaviors. The heterogeneous nucleating effects of exfoliated LDH layers were revealed by high crystallization temperature and high crystallinity of nanocomposites.