Development of Microporous Breathable Polyethylene Film Using Different Types of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene with Calcium Carbonate as Filler

Abstract:

In order to improve the conformity of the glove wearers, the microporous breathable polyethylene gloves are developed using Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Ziegler-Natta Linear-Low Density Polyethylene (ZNLLDPE), Metallocene Linear-Low Density Polyethylene (MLLDPE) and calcium carbonate filler (CC). In this study, LDPE/ZNLLDPE/CC and LDPE/MLLDPE/CC microporous films were prepared to investigate the influence of ZNLLDPE and MLLDPE on the film breathability and elongation. The microporous films were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis and Particulate Filtration Efficiency (PFE) analysis, Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) testing and mechanical properties testing. Based on the result, LDPE-MLLDPE film yielded film breathability of 335.73 g/m² ∙ day which is 95.3% higher than LDPE-ZNLLDPE film due to the higher LDPE-MLLDPE film crystallinity and prominent dewetting behaviour between CC and LDPE/MLLDPE matrix. Moreover, the high degree of tie molecules in MLLDPE enabled the film to stretch further upon film elongation. Therefore, LDPE-MLLDPE film showed up to 207.2% comparatively better film elongation than LDPE-ZNLLDPE film. The improved film breathability and film elongation render the mixture of LDPE/MLLDPE/CC as a better material for breathable polyethylene glove production.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 349)
• Pages: 95-100
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-VGA64b
• Online since: September 2023
• Authors: Joo Yee Tay*, Lim Steven, Shee Keat Mah, Yoke Meng Tan
• Keywords: Calcium Carbonate Filler, Metallocene LLDPE, Microporous Film

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