Preliminary results on toughening a linear‐low‐density polyethylene using thermoplastic elastomers

The effects of several commercially available thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) on a gas‐phase linear‐low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) were studied using small‐scale commercial‐compounding techniques. The properties of blown films of these compositions were evaluated as a function of TPE type and composition and compared to unmodified LLDPE films. Ethylene/propylene elastomers had modest effects on the falling dart impact strength and machine‐direction tear propagation resistance while polyisobutylene and styrene block copolymers had more significant effects on these properties.