Simultaneous improvement of processability and toughness of highly filled MH/LLDPE composites by using fluorine-containing flow modifiers

Processability and toughness are crucial to the industrial production of highly filled polymer-based composites. In this work, a strategy is proposed for simultaneously improving the processability and toughness of highly filled magnesium hydroxide (MH)/linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites with the aid of flow modifiers. Fluorine-containing flow modifiers (PMFs) with low surface energy are located at the MH/LLDPE interface, leading to relatively homogeneous dispersion of the fillers. The torque value of the MH/LLDPE (80:20 by weight) composite with 5 wt% PMF (20.2 N·m) is less than that of the unmodified MH/LLDPE (29.8 N·m), while the corresponding impact strength increases from 1.93 kJ/m2 to 3.15 kJ/m2. Rheological studies further verify that PMF is able to reduce the melt viscosity of highly filled MH/LLDPE composites, originating from the reduction in molecular chain entanglement and the improvement in molecular chain mobility, which are the core factors responsible for the overall enhancement of properties.