Heat Shrinkable Behavior and Mechanical Response of a Low‐Density Polyethylene/Millable Polyurethane/Organoclay Ternary Nanocomposite

Summary: A low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/millable polyurethane (PU)/organoclay ternary nanocomposite was successfully prepared. The nanocomposites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanocomposites, as evidenced by XRD, are intercalated. The heat shrinkable behavior of the nanocomposites, as well as their pristine counterparts, was studied. It was observed that heat shrinkability decreases with increased filler content. The tensile strength and the tensile modulus of the nanocomposites are higher than their pristine counterparts.

The heat shrinkability of the unfilled LDPE/millable PU blend is highest and it decreases with increased nanofiller content.