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In Situ Polymerization of Hybrid Polyethylene‐Alumina Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Zhang Xi,
Simon Leonardo C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200500075
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , polyethylene , vinyl alcohol , polymerization , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , in situ polymerization , copolymer , dispersion (optics) , polymer chemistry , composite material , polymer , nanotechnology , engineering , physics , optics
Summary: Polyethylene‐alumina nanocomposites were prepared using in situ polymerization. Alumina nanomers were prepared by treating alumina nanoparticles with an alkylaluminium compound and a vinyl alcohol. This approach led to (a) grafting double bonds onto the alumina surface, and (b) dispersion of alumina nanoparticles in toluene minimizing aggregation. The level of dispersion of nanomers was a function of the molar ratio between the alkylaluminium compound and the vinyl alcohol. Copolymerization of ethylene and nanomers catalyzed by the coordination catalyst (diimine)NiCl 2 /MAO produced hybrid nanocomposites with polyethylene chains covalently bonded to the surface of alumina nanoparticles. Using excess of vinyl alcohol produced crosslinked material. Appropriate preparation of nanomers has produced a good dispersion of alumina nanoparticles in the polyethylene matrix. At certain compositions the final material had better mechanical properties, such as yield strength and toughness, than the homopolyethylene.