Ethylene/1-Hexene Copolymerization and Synthesis of LLDPE/Nanocarbon Composite through In Situ Polymerization

Copolymerization of ethylene/1-hexene using a modified ZN-type catalyst was carried out in the presence of triethylaluminium as cocatalyst. The optimum copolymerization activity was obtained at Al: Ti = 357: 1, 60°C and the comonomer concentration of 0.6 mol/L in the range studied. Copolymer/nanocarbon (including multiwalled carbon nanotube, graphene nanoplatelet) composites were prepared via in-situ polymerization. The copolymerization activity decreased by addition of the nanocarbon into the reactor. The presence of graphene nanoplatelet in nanocomposites reduced the melting temperature and increased heat of fusion, crystallinity and density of the obtained polymer. In the copolymer/carbon nanotube nanocomposites, decreasing of melting temperature was observed in comparison to pure copolymer, whereas, heat of fusion, crystallinity and density increased. The results of TGA analysis showed that the addition of nanocarbons has improved the thermal stability of obtained copolymers.