Two commercial nanoclays were used here as catalytic fillers for production of polyethylene (PE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) nanocomposites viain situpolymerization with zirconocene/MAO catalyst. It was found that both types of nanoclays designated as clay A and clay B can improve thermal stability to the host polymers as observed from a thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The distribution of the clays inside the polymer matrices appeared good due to thein situpolymerization system into which the clays were introduced during the polymer forming reaction. Upon investigating the clays by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), it was observed that the crucial differences between the two clays are the crystallite sizes (A < B) and the amounts of amine group (A < B). The higher amount of amine group in clay B was supposed to be a major reason for the lower catalytic activity of the polymerization systems compared to clay A resulting from its deactivating effect on zirconocene catalyst. However, for both clays, increasing their contents in the polymerization systems reduced the catalytic activity due to the higher steric hindrance occurring.

Summary Particleboard is a common material used in furniture manufacturing. In the present study, it is made from natural rubber wood in the form of coarse and fine particles which is glued with urea formaldehyde adhesive. Because of the cellulosic structure containing many hydroxyl groups, the particleboard becomes a hygroscopic product. The objective of the present study was to increase the water resistance of the particleboard by adding polyethylene (PE). Four grades of PE were selected and mixed with the rubber wood particles before forming as a three‐layer particleboard. Water absorption and thickness swelling were determined. The mechanical properties of the particleboard were evaluated including modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond strength (IB) and screw holding force. It is found that the addition of 5 wt% PE decreased the thickness swelling at 2 h, e.g. from 19.27% to 13.18–17.16%, and at 24 h, e.g. from 23.81% to 16.88–21.04%. The presence of 5 wt% PE also decreased the water absorption at 2 h, e.g. from 56.17% to 42.01–52.98%, and at 24 h, e.g. from 70.89% to 58.63–66.76%. LDPE D209 and LDPE 2420T showed high potential in this application because they enhanced the water resistance and slightly increased the internal bond strength of the particleboard. MOR and MOE of particleboard could be ranked in the following order: D209 > control > 2420T.

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