The morphology evolution of polyethylene produced in the presence of a Ziegler‐type catalyst anchored on the surface of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Data are presented on the evolution of the morphology of polyethylene (PE) formed via in situ polymerization with different polymer yield over a Ziegler‐type titanium‐magnesium catalyst anchored on the CNT surface. Individual polymer microparticles are formed on the CNT surface at the initial polymerization stage (the yield of 2.5–10 g PE/g CNT) with the formation of PE/CNT composites having a shish‐kebab structure. As the polymer yield increases above 10 g PE per g CNT, the size of microparticles increases and the CNT surface gets totally covered with the polymer. We have found also a great effect produced by the morphology of initial CNT particle aggregates of individual nanotubes on the morphology of macroparticles in PE/CNT composites and the uniformity of CNTs distribution in PE/CNT composites. In the case of CNT samples with a loose structure of macroparticles (aggregates of entangled nanotubes), it is possible to obtain a homogeneous distribution of nanotubes in the polymer matrix of composites and increase the electrical conductivity of composites by 1–8 orders of magnitude by varying the CNT content in the composites from 0.9 to 2.8 wt%.

Preparation of carbon nanotube-reinforced polyethylene nanocomposites with better anti-scaling and corrosion-resistant properties

“…35,[39][40][41] Due to their outstanding properties, especially high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, it is found that the addition of such a 1D nanofiller can bring about an obvious enhancement in the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] Despite a lot of literature on CNT/PE nanocomposites being reported, there are almost no reports concerned with the effect of carbon nanotubes on the anti-scaling and corrosion resistance of PE nanocomposites. 11,14,15,[50][51][52][53][54][55] Besides, CNTs can be functionalized and dispersed in some polymers for coating applications, 56 like typical CNT-filled epoxy-based nanocomposites.…”