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Development of a new synthetic method based on in situ strategies for polyethylene/clay composites
Author(s) -
Carrero Alicia,
van Grieken Rafael,
Suarez Inmaculada,
Paredes Beatriz
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.36830
Subject(s) - materials science , polyethylene , linear low density polyethylene , composite material , sepiolite , in situ polymerization , copolymer , polymer , polymerization , in situ , modulus , catalysis , ethylene , nanocomposite , dynamic mechanical analysis , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , raw material
Methods to make polymer composites comprise melt and solution blending, but in the particular case of polyolefins they are not appropriate due to the weak interfacial adhesion. In the present work, in situ blended (ISB) together with in situ polymerization (ISP) processes have been employed and compared using MAO/( n BuCp) 2 ZrCl 2 as catalytic system and sepiolite clay as additive in ethylene polymerization. A new method as a combination of the previous ones (ISB + ISP) has been developed and applied to the synthesis of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE). When ISB + ISP method is employed high catalytic activities are observed and this combination allows to increase the storage modulus at 25°C up to 26% with 2.8 wt % of clay in LLDPE when silica is employed as catalyst carrier; in that way, copolymer particles with good morphology with higher storage modulus are obtained, useful properties for their use in specific applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012