Synthesis of nanocomposites by in situ metallocene-catalyzed polymerization of propene. (April 2015) - Zakrzewska, S.
Graphical abstract: Highlights: Novel aluminumphosphates with kanemite structure were used as filler for nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by in situ polymerization of propene. Highly exfoliated morphology was proved by TEM and XRD. High degree of exfoliation was observed even at the highest filler content. Abstract: Organo-modified aluminophosphate with kanemite-like structure was used for the in situ synthesis of polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites performed by metallocene-catalyzed polymerization. The filler exhibits a layered structure with different organic pending groups arranged in the interlayer space. Melt-compounded composites with the same filler were prepared for comparison. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) proved exfoliation of the filler in the PP matrix and formation of nanocomposite after in situ synthesis. In contrast, in the melt-composites the filler is agglomerated and only microcomposites are obtained.