Earticle

This work focused on the study of thermal properties and kinetic behavior of LDPE- nanoclay composite films. The effect of nanoclay content (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt%) on thermal stability and crystallization characteristics of the nanocomposites were investigated by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The results from endothermic curve showed that the nanoclay played an important role in the crystallization of nanocomposites by acting as nucleating agent. From exothermic curve, there was a crystallization temperature shift which was attributed to crystallization process induced by nanoclay. The TGA results showed that the addition of nanoclay significantly increased the thermal stability of LDPE matrix, which was likely due to the characteristic of layered silicates/ clays dispersed in LDPE matrix as well as the formation of multilayered carbonaceous- silicate char. A well-known Coats- Redfern method was used to evaluate the decomposition activation energy of nanocomposite. It was demonstrated that introducing of nanoclay to LDPE matrix escalated the activation energy of nanocomposite decomposition resulting in thermal stability improvement.