Polyethylene/clay preparation methods

Gaboune, A., Sinha Ray, A., Ait-Kadi, A., Riedl, B., and Bousmina, M. 2006. Polyethylene/clay nanocomposites prepared by polymerization compounding method. Journal cf Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 6 530-535. 

Alexandre et al. [98] reported the preparation of PE/clay nanocomposite using Ti-based constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) catalyst. The MMT and hectorite were initially treated with TMA-depleted MAO and then intercalated with the CGC catalyst. Finally, addition of ethylene resulted in the formation of high molecular weight and exfoliated PE/clay nanocomposites. The vinyl groups were chemically linked to the sDicate surface when copolymerized was carried out with ethylene inside the clay galleries using the nickel catalyst (Fig. 9). This method not only results in the effective exfoliation of the layered silicate but also in polyethylene chains that are chemically bonded to silicate surface. 

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