This article describes the influence of a hexamethyldisilane-treated nanosilica (end-capped SiO 2 ) on morphological and tensile properties of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) blends prepared by one step melt mixing process via a twin screw extruder. The treatment replaces many of the surface hydroxyl groups on the nanosilica with extremely hydrophobic trimethylsilyl groups. Transmission electron microscopic results revealed that the treated nanosilica formed small aggregates in polymer matrix and they were mostly localized in the LLDPE matrix besides localizing in EVA droplets and at LLDPE/EVA interface. These nanoparticles had compatibilizing role on the blend system and at high content changed morphology from biphasic toward a monophasic. Addition of the end-capped nanosilica to the blend and increasing its content increased the Young's modulus, tensile strength as well as elongation at break of the nanocomposites. Different models were used to predict the Young's modulus of the nanocomposites. It was found that the experimental data were better fitted by Counto model than the other models. Melt rheological investigations on the nanosilica filled LLDPE/EVA blend system showed that incorporation of the treated nanosilica, even up to 10 wt %, did not lead to a solid-like behavior at low-frequency indicating ease of processing of such highly filled system.
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