In Situ synthesis of inorganic filler-filled polyethylene using polyethersulfone-supported TiCl4 catalyst system

摘要

In situ ethylene polymerizations with inorganic fillers were performed using catalyst based on titanium tetrachloride supported on polyethersulfone. The inorganic fillers used were MgO, TiO2, and CaCO3, which were pretreated with cocatalyst (methylaluminoxine) for better dispersion onto the polymer matrix. The formation of polyethylene (PE) within the whole matrix was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared studies. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction profile of the synthesized PEs indicated the presence of crystalline region. It was found that the nature of inorganic filler did not have any remarkable effect on the melting characteristics of the polymer, but the degree of crystallinity of PE was found to be higher for TiO 2-filled PE. The amount of filler incorporated into the matrix was also evaluated through thermogravimetric analysis, where TiO2-filled PE showed ～ 49% of filler material, which was also reflected in the higher productivity obtained by this system. The morphology of the filler-filled PEs was different, whereas the elemental dispersion was found to be uniform on the surface as elucidated through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.