Metallocenic polyolefin composites with siloxane polymer additives

Highlights: • LLDPE and iPP composites with PDMS and their gamma irradiated samples were analyzed. • Wear decrease with the amount of PDMS in both polyolefins. • Viscoelastic properties increase in LLDPE composites with lower content of PDMS. • Viscoelasticity decrease for iPP composites, but increase when vacuum irradiated. • PDMS could be radio-grafted onto polyolefins, especially vinyl functionalized PDMS. - Abstract: Blends and composites were obtained by mixing commercial metallocenic linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and isotactic polypropylene, with different molecular weight polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS), including a vinyl ended PDMS. Gamma ray irradiation at different atmospheres was also applied in order to enhance blending by grafting and crosslinking of the radioinduced radicals. Dynamic rheological behavior results suggested that blending increased the viscoelasticity of the blends. Improvement and changes in the abrasive wear behavior was also followed, along with structural properties.