Fogging Control on LDPE/EVA Coextruded Films: Wettability Behavior and Its Correlation with Electric Performance

Abstract

The transformation of fog at a non-visible water layer on a membrane of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) was evaluated. Nonionic surfactants of major demand in the polyolefin industry were studied. A kinetic study using a hot fog chamber showed that condensation is controlled by both the diffusion and permanency of the surfactant more than by the change of the surface energy developed by the wetting agents. The greatest permanency of the anti-fog effect of the LDPE/EVA surface was close to 3000 h. The contact angle results demonstrated the ability of the wetting agent to spread out to the surface. Complementarily, the migration of nonionic surfactants from the inside of the polymeric matrix to the surface was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy. Additionally, electrical measurement on the anti-fogging membrane at alternating currents and at a sweep frequency was proposed to test the conductivity and wetting ability of nonionic surfactants. We proved that the amphiphilic molecules had the ability to increase the conductivity in the polyolefin membrane. A correlation between the bulk electrical conductivity and the permanency of the fogging control on the LDPE/EVA coextruded film was found.

Direct Measurements of Adhesion Forces for Water Droplets in Contact with Smooth and Patterned Polymers

“…PDMS and EVA are hydrophobic with advancing contact angles of 117 and 100°, respectively. The contact angle for PDMS matches exactly the value reported by Shahsavan et al 43 The contact angle measured for EVA is higher by about 7°than that reported by WaldoMendoza et al 44 The elevated roughness of the EVA sample (Table 1) is likely responsible for this difference in contact angle. Nylon and PET are under the category of hydrophilic polymers, 45,46 with advancing contact angles of about 63 and 77°, respectively.…”

An effective method for delayed migration of dripping agent from linear low‐density polyethylene films

“…Nowadays, polymeric films are widely used in various fields including food packaging, medical equipment, aerospace industry, and agricultural production 1‐4 . Plastic films are one of the best choices as packaging material for food packaging and agricultural greenhouse coverage because their simple production process and low cost 3 .…”

Investigating the crosslinking effects on surface characteristics of vinyltrimethoxysilane‐grafted moisture‐cured low‐density polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate blend

“…have worked on the modification of XLPE exposed to partial discharges at elevated temperature. Waldo‐Mendozae et al . have examined the effect of the different nonionic surfactants on the wetting behavior of the LDPE/EVA coextruded films.…”