Processing Characteristics of Layered Silicate Nanocomposites With Application to Blown Film

The aim of this study is to investigate the film blowing processing of various polyamide 6-based layered silicate nanocomposites (LSN’s) and to correlate their processing behaviors to the underlying rheology and structure. In-situ polymerized nanocomposites were found to possess a wider processing window compared to the base PA6. Shear and dynamic rheological measurements were employed to correlate the rheological behavior of the nanocomposites to the bubble formation and stability in the film blowing process. The in-situ plymerized LSN melts having higher elastic modulus (G′) were found to perform better in the film blowing process. DSC measurements indicated that nanoclays induce the γ type of crystallinity, which may also play a role in film blowing behavior.