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Tri‐ammonium end functional polyethylene: facile synthesis and application as an intercalation agent
Author(s) -
Zhang Yongjie,
Li Xiaopei,
Wang Shuwei,
Xu Jing,
Li Huayi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.5468
Subject(s) - intercalation (chemistry) , ammonium , polyethylene , materials science , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
Organo‐modification of montmorillonite (MMT) is crucial for the promotion of a fine dispersion of MMT into an (often hydrophobic) polymer matrix. Ammonium‐terminated polymers are more efficient in modifying clay compared to small organic cations such as alkyl ammoniums or side functionalized polymers. Herein, tri‐amino end functional polyethylene (PE‐3 N) with low molecular weight was first synthesized via an efficient and robust epoxide ring‐opening reaction by treating epoxide‐terminated PE with diethylenetriamine. The chemical structure of PE‐3 N was unambitiously characterized by chromatographic and spectral methods. By reacting with excess HCl, PE‐3 N was subsequently converted to tri‐ammonium end functional polyethylene (PE‐3 N + ), which serves as an intercalation agent of MMT. By adjusting the weight ratio of PE‐3 N + to pristine MMT ( R P/M ) applied in the static melt intercalation process, correlations between the extent of exfoliation and R P/M were successfully established. XRD results revealed that complete exfoliation of MMT could be afforded with R P/M as low as 1, which is the lowest value ever reported for ammonium‐terminated polymers applied as intercalation agents. SEM micrographs showed that MMT sheets were swollen by PE‐3 N + , affirming the successful modification of MMT. The PE modified MMT obtained may find application in preparing high‐performance PE/MMT nanocomposites. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry