Michigan State University

Weijie Ren

Krishnamurthy Jayaraman

Rahul H Rane

The disclosure relates to a nanocomposite polymeric film including a thermoplastic polymer matrix such as polypropylene or other polyolefin, a coupling agent-modified organoclay reinforcement, and a polymeric compatibilizer bound to the coupling agent-modified organoclay, in particular as a thin film with controllable thicknesses. The disclosure further relates to masterbatch additives formed from the coupling agent-modified organoclay and the polymeric compatibilizer bound to the coupling agent-modified organoclay as well as related methods for making the nanocomposite polymeric film and/or processing recycled plastics. The inclusion of the coupling agent-modified organoclay reinforcement improves the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite polymeric film and the rheological properties of polymer melts including the nanocomposite polymeric film components. The coupling agent-modified organoclay leads to strain-hardening behavior for the polymer melts, which in turn can improve extensional viscosity values and melt processability for film blowing.

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East Lansing, MI, United States of America

Weijie Ren