Novel organic/inorganic nanocomposite of polyethylene. I. Preparation via in situ polymerization approach

A novel methodology for the preparation of polyethylene/palygorskite, "in s itu coordinated polymerization," was proposed. A Ziegler-Natta catalyst was first supported on the surface of nanoscale crystal fibers of palygorskite and subsequently used to initiate ethylene polymerization on the surface o f the fibers. The palygorskite was encapsulated by polyethylene and became reinforcement fibers of the composite. The palygorskite fibers were heat-tr eated to remove water, to ensure that the supported titanium species posses sed proper activity for the polymerization of ethylene. The effect of the c onditions of heat-treating, titanium-supporting, and other factors such as temperature and type and amount of the cocatalyst on the initiation activit y of the palygorskite fibers were investigated. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.