Abstract
Summary: TiO~2~ nanoparticles were introduced into linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE)/low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) composite films in the form of master batch where TiO~2~ was pre‐dispersed in LDPE by melt compounding. The dispersion behavior of TiO~2~ nanoparticles was investigated by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM). The rheology results show that the viscosity of LDPE/TiO~2~ master batch is lower than that of LLDPE/LDPE composites. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer (EDS) composition distribution map indicates that TiO~2~ nanoparticles were dispersed randomly in the master batch. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that LDPE/TiO~2~ master batch is crushed into micron scale dispersed phases due to the shear stress during the blow‐forming process. Subsequently, TiO~2~ nanoparticles in the dispersed phases are released into the ambient matrix and form a wide ring composed of monodispersed particles. The sizes of spherical crystals decrease due to the presence of TiO~2~ nanoparticles in LLDPE/LDPE/TiO~2~ nanocomposites. The transparency of LLDPE/LDPE/TiO~2~ composite films decreases little compared to that of LLDPE/LDPE composite films.
SEM image of TiO~2~ nanoparticles dispersed randomly in LLDPE/LDPE/TiO~2~ composite films.
magnified imageSEM image of TiO~2~ nanoparticles dispersed randomly in LLDPE/LDPE/TiO~2~ composite films.