PERFORMANCE OF REPROCESSED MULTILAYER LDPE NYLON-6 FILM/

Multilayer LDPE/nylon-6 films with an overall content of 71 wt% LDPE, 24 wt% nylon-6, and 5 wt% PE-based tie-layer adhesive were reprocessed under both minimal and extensive mixing conditions. Thermal and mecha nical properties, oxygen and water vapor permeability, and morphology of the reprocessed samples were determined. The modulus and yield stre ss of the reprocessed films fell between those of the pure homopolymer s, whereas percent elongation at break and energy-to-break for all rep rocessed films were less than those of the homopolymers. In minimally reprocessed film, layering of LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and nylo n-6 was retained, whereas in extensively mixed samples, nylon-6 domain s were spherical and ranged from 0.2 to 7 mu m. Minimally reprocessed film exhibited good O-2 and H2O vapor barrier properties, whereas exte nsively-mixed samples had poor barrier properties. Properties of well- mixed blends prepared both with and without adhesive showed that 5 wt% adhesive did not compatibilize the LDPE and nylon-6 components.