The use of fillers is an established method of modifying the properties of plastics. The recent increase in prices of plastic raw materials and the new developments in compounding technology have heightened the interest of the plastic industry in compounds of fillers and polyethylene. This article discusses briefly the literature dealing with the effect of fillers on the properties of polyethylene, and research carried out on the effects of different mineral fillers, talcs, micas, clays, wollastonite and dolomite on the many properties of low density polyethylene films. The fine grade talcs have proved to be better than the other fillers with respect to most film properties. The platy talcs decreased the oxygen permeability by as much as 80 percent and the water vapor transmission rate by as much as 70 percent. With talcs, clays and dolomite the yield strength increased but with all fillers the tensile strength at break weakened with increasing filler content. A low elongation at break and a low tearing, resistance indicate the brittleness of the films especially at high filler contents (over 30 wt percent). The coefficients of friction decreased considerably with all fillers and a significant improvement in printability was achieved. However, none of the fillers had more than a very minor effect on the heat sealability of low density polyethylene.
synopsisThe vinylation of cellulose by acetylene under alkaline conditions was optimized with respect to both DS and DP. Shortening the reaction time reduced the harmful alkaline depolymerization of cellulose during the reaction and gave products with higher DP values.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.