SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PE/MMT NANOCOMPOSITES VIA IN SITU POLYMERIZATION

摘要

The great economic values of polyolefin/layered silicate nanocomposites are foreseen in potential applications in various areas. In situ polymerization overrides entropic and enthalpic barriers associated with intercalating ndnpolar polyolefm with polar silicates. Moreover, the composite produced by in situ polymerization has strong interface between the clay and the matrix which makes the composite has better thermal and mechanical properties. In this paper, Polyethylene(PE)/Montmorillonite(MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ coordination polymerization using a MMT/MgCl_2/tiCl_4 catalyst activated by Al(Et)_3. The intercalated structure of MMT layers in the catalyst and their dispersion in composites were proved, and the thermal behaviors and mechanical properties of the composites were discussed as well.