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An Efficient In Situ Polymerization Method for the Production of Polyethylene/Clay Nanocomposites: Effect of Polymerization Conditions on Particle Morphology
Author(s) -
Maneshi Abolfazl,
Soares João B. P.,
Simon Leonardo C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201100189
Subject(s) - polymerization , materials science , organoclay , in situ polymerization , polyethylene , exfoliation joint , polymer clay , polymer chemistry , zirconium , polymer , coordination polymerization , chain growth polymerization , nanocomposite , chemical engineering , radical polymerization , composite material , nanotechnology , graphene , engineering , metallurgy
The effect of polymerization temperature, TIBA concentration, and zirconium loading on clay on the in situ polymerization of ethylene with clay‐supported metallocenes is investigated. Polymerization activity, clay exfoliation, and powder morphology are the response parameters. Zirconium loading on clay plays a determining role on polymerization activity and polymer/clay particle morphology, and increasing the polymerization temperature is found to facilitate clay exfoliation. A simpler procedure for in situ polymerization is also described in which the organoclay treated with trimethylaluminum acts as a cocatalyst in the presence of TIBA to obtain polyethylene/clay nanocomposites with acceptable activities and morphologies.