DYNAMIC VISCOELASTICITY OF RED MUD FILLED POLYPROPYLENE LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE BLEND

Influence of loading of red mud (RM) particle on dynamic viscoelastic properties of RM filled isotactic polypropylene (PP) flow density poly ethylene (LDPE) blend has been investigated at 200 degrees C. RM parti cles were blended with a PP/LDPE (50/50) blend by using an elastic mel t extruder. Microstructures of RM particles filled samples have been o bserved by optical microscope in transmission mode. RM particles were observed in both PP and LDPE phases. Their distribution in individual polymers was different. The addition of 30 wt % RM particles in PP/LDP E, blend gave the dynamic shear viscosity eta' = 1.73 x 10(3) N s/m(2) , complex viscosity eta = 1.80 x 10(3) N s/m(2), storage modulus G' = 6.52 x 10(2) N/m(2), loss modulus G '' = 2.17 x 10(3) N/m(2) and comp lex modulus G= 2.27 x 10(3) N/m(2) at angular frequency 1.25 s(-1). R M particle filled blend showed a relationship, log G' = 1.52 log G '' + log (6/5 . G(NO)), between G' and G '' which is independent of angul ar frequency and loading of RM particles at 200 degrees C, where G(NO) is plateau modulus. Shear thinning effect was observed after 10 wt % loading of RM particles in PP/LDPE/RM composites at low angular freque ncy region.