Structure of blown film from blends of polyethylene and high melt strength polypropylene

The structure of blown film processed from linear low density polyethylene blended with up to 30 wt% of a high melt strength polypropylene (hmsPP) was examined using primarily atomic force microscopy and wide angle X-ray scattering. The study focused on two polyethylene resins with the same density: a conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyzed linear low density polyethylene (znPE) and a blend of a Ziegler-Natta catalyzed and a metallocene catalyzed linear low density polyethylene (zn/mPE). Parallel characterization was performed on blown film of the hmsPP and blown film of each of the polyethylene resins. In films of the blends, the hmsPP was well-dispersed in the polyethylene matrix as elongated domains. In the domains, the hmsPP crystallized as planar row-nucleated structures with the long axis of the lamellae perpendicular to the extrusion direction. Row-nucleated hmsPP lamellae provided a template for epitaxial crystallization of polyethylene lamellae. The 42degrees angle of the lattice match imparted a characteristic herringbone texture to the polyethylene. Blending with hmsPP increased the tensile modulus and strength of polyethylene film without significantly affecting the ultimate elongation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.