Creep response of a LDPE-based nanocomposite

Polymer nanocomposites and their behavior have been widely investigated by several paths, including mechanical, rheological, and permeability tests, finding that several parameters (such as the polymer matrix, the nanofiller, their amounts, the presence of compatibilizers, processing parameters, etc.) can influence the main properties. However, less information is available regarding the creep response of polymer nanocomposites; in particular, few or no data are reported about the combined effect of different loads and different temperatures. In this article, the creep behavior of a low density polyethylene/organomodified clay nanocomposite has been investigated. The characterization of viscoelastic response has taken into account both the effects of applied load and temperature, which are often considered separately. Dynamic–mechanical and structural analysis was also performed in order to get a deeper understanding of the involved phenomena. The nanocomposite showed lower creep deformations (up to ∼20%) and the relative differences with the neat polymer matrix were found to be increasing upon increasing the applied load (up to ∼24%) and the temperature (up to ∼38%). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44180.