Processability of LLDPE/LDPE blends: Capillary extrusion studies

Abstract The processing behavior of a number of linear low‐density polyethylenes/low density polyethylene (LLDPE/ LDPE) blends with emphasis on the effects of long chain branches is presented. A Ziegler‐Natta linear low‐density polyethylene was blended with four low‐density polyethylene LDPE's having distinctly different molecular weights. The weight fractions of the LDPEs used in the blends were 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 75 wt%. Capillary extrusion reveals that the onset of sharkskin and gross melt fracture are slightly influenced with the addition of LDPE into LLDPE. However, the amplitude of the oscillations in the stick‐slip flow regime was found to scale well with the weight fraction of LDPE. Amounts as low as 1 wt% LDPE have a significant effect on the amplitude of pressure oscillations. These effects are clearly due to the presence of long chain branching (LCB); furthermore, it was observed that the onset of this flow regime was shifted to higher shear rates with increase of LDPE content. On the other hand, shear rheology is not sensitive to detect addition of small levels of LDPE up to 20 wt%. Extensional rheology can detect levels of LDPE as small as 1 wt% only at high Hencky strain rates (typically greater than 5s −1 ) and only for certain blends, typically those that contain LDPE of high molecular weight. It is suggested that the magnitude of oscillations in the oscillating melt fracture flow regime is a sensitive method capable of detecting low levels of LCB. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1317–1326, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers