Influence of Reduced Graphene Oxide on the Morphological and Mechanical Behavior of Compatibilized Linear Low Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites for the Rotational Molding Industry

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the development of high‐performance LLDPE nanocomposites reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MA) compatibilizer. Initial screening of melt‐compounded formulations (0.05–0.2 wt.% rGO) revealed that the nanocomposite LLDPE/0.05% rGO/0.05% PP‐g‐MA provided the optimal balance of stiffness, thermal stability, and uniform nanoparticle dispersion without compromising melt processability. Rotationally molded parts produced from this optimized formulation exhibited an enhancement in low‐temperature toughness; during drop‐dart impact testing at −40°C, the material shifted from a brittle failure mode—typical of neat LLDPE at 19.9 J/mm—to ductile deformation, absorbing up to 24.9 J/mm of energy without rupture. Dynamic mechanical analysis further confirmed an increase in the storage modulus across a wide temperature range without altering the glass transition temperature. These findings demonstrate that utilizing very low concentrations of compatibilized rGO is a highly effective strategy to expand the application range of rotomolded LLDPE parts in demanding structural and low‐temperature environments.