Strength-strain, barrier, thermal, and fire-resistance properties of nanocomposites based on linear polyethylene with montmorillonite

Strength-strain, sorption, thermal, and fire-resistance properties of nanocomposites based on linear low-density polyethylene with montmorillonite modified with a quaternary phosphonium salt were studied. It is shown that the diffusion, sorption, and permeability of the nanocomposites depends on the type of a montmorillonite and its concentration in the polymer, and also on the nature of a penetrant and degree of its thermodynamic affinity for the polymer. Introduction of up to 3 wt % organomontmorillonite improves the thermal stability by more than 90°, raises the oxygen index to 20 vol %, and makes the elastic modulus 47% larger relative to the base polymer due to the nanostructural morphology formed in the course of mixing.