Polyolefins Journal
With the collaboration of Iran Polymer Society

Preparation of high performance PP/ reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites through a combined in situ polymerization and masterbatch method

Document Type : Original research

Authors

He-Xin Zhang 1, 2
Seung-Ri Lee 1
Dong-Ho Lee 1
Xue-Quan Zhang 2
Keun-Byoung Yoon 1

1 Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Korea

2 Key Lab. of Synthetic Rubber, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academic of Science, China

https://doi.org/10.22063/poj.2016.1375
Abstract
Despite the great potential of graphene as a nanofiller, achieving homogeneous dispersion remains the key challenge for effectively reinforcing polyolefin (such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)) nanocomposites. Therefore, in this research, we report a facile combined in situ polymerization and masterbatch method for fabricating PP/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites. In the polymerization stage, the synthesized catalyst exhibited a very high activity toward propylene polymerization, while the resultant PP/rGO with a very high isotactic index (I.I. = 99.3), broad molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 14.9), and thermal stability was produced. After meltblending with commercial PP, a significantly increased modulus along with no observable change in tensile strength and elongation-at-break were achieved via the addition of a very small amount of rGO; these properties resulted from the suitable dispersion and good interface adhesion of the graphene sheet and PP matrix. Thus, this work provides a method for production of high performance PP.

Keywords

Polypropylene
nanocomposites
in-Situ Polymerization
Graphene
Subjects
  1. Kissin YV (2008) Alkene polymerization reactions with transition Metal catalysts, Elsevier, Amsterdam
  2. Vasile C (2000) Handbook of polyolefins, Marcel Dekker, New York
  3. Bahri-Laleh N, Nekoomanesh M, Sadjadi S, Pajouhan A (2016) Polyolefin and olefin production in Iran: Current and future capacities, Polyolefin J 3: 11-22
  4. Ameli A, Nofar M, Park CB, Pötschke P, Rizvi G (2014) Polypropylene/carbon nanotube nano/ microcellular structures with high dielectric permittivity, low dielectric loss, and low percolation threshold. Carbon 71: 206-217
  5. Yuan B, Bao C, Song L, Hong N, Liew KM, Hu Y (2014) Preparation of functionalized grapheme oxide/polypropylene nanocomposite with significantly improved thermal stability and studies on the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties. Chem Eng J 237: 411-420
  6. Molavi FK, Soltani S, Naderi G, Bagheri R (2016) Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube on mechanical and rheological properties of silane modified EPDM rubber, Polyolefin J 3: 69-77
  7. Zhou G, Li L, Wang DW, Shan XY, Pei S, Li F, Cheng HM (2015) A Flexible Sulfur graphene polypropylene separator integrated electrode for advanced Li-S batteries, Adv Mater 27: 641-647
  8. Prashantha K, Soulestin J, Lacrampe MF, Krawczak P (2014) Processing and characterization of polypropylene filled with multiwalled carbon nanotube and clay hybrid nanocomposites. Int J Polym Anal Char 19: 363-371
  9. Ramanathan T, Abdala AA, Stankovich S, Dikin DA, Herrera-alonso M, Pinter RD, Adamson DH, Schniepp HC, Chen X, Ruoff RS, Nguyen ST, Aksay IA, Prud'Homme RK Brinson LC (2008) Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites. Nat Nanotechnol 3: 327-331
  10. Kim H, Macosko CW (2008) Morphology and properties of polyester/exfoliated graphite nanocomposites, Macromolecules 41: 3317-3327
  11. Debelak B, Lafdi K (2007) Use of exfoliated graphite filler to enhance polymer physical properties. Carbon 45: 1727-1734
  12. Rafiee MA, Rafiee J, Wang Z, Song HH, Yu ZZ, Koratkar N (2009) Enhanced mechanical properties of nanocomposites at low graphene content. ACS Nano 3: 3884-3890
  13. Raghu AV, Lee YR, Jeong HM, Shin CM (2008) Preparation and physical properties of waterborne polyurethane/functionalized graphene sheet nanocomposites. Macromol Chem Phys 209: 2487-2493
  14. Lee YR, Raghu AV, Jeong HM, Kim BK (2009) Properties of waterborne polyurethane/ functionalized graphene sheet nanocomposites prepared by an in situ method. Macromol Chem Phys 210: 1247-1254
  15. Xu YX, Hong WJ, Bai H, Li C, Shi GQ (2009) Strong and ductile poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide composite films with a layered structure. Carbon 47: 3538-2543
  16. Camargo PHC, Satyanarayana KG, Wypych F (2009) Nanocomposites: Synthesis, structure, properties and new application opportunities. Mat Res 12: 1-39
  17. Pavlidou S, Papaspyrides CD (2008) A review on polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. Prog Polym Sci 33: 1119-1198
  18. Fu S, Li N, Wang K, Zhang Q, Fu Q (2015) Reduction of graphene oxide with the presence of polypropylene micro-latex for facile preparation of polypropylene/graphene nanosheet composites. Colloid Polym Sci 293: 1495-1503
  19. Ryu SH, Shanmugharaj AM (2014) Influence of hexamethylene diamine functionalized graphene oxide on the melt crystallization and properties of polypropylene nanocomposites. Mater Chem Phys 146: 478-486
  20. Vallés C, Abdelkader AM, Young RJ, Kinloch IA (2014) Few layer graphene–polypropylene nanocomposites: The role of flake diameter. Faraday Discuss 173: 379-390
  21. Beckert F, Bodendorfer S, Zhang W, Thomann R, Mulhaupt R (2014) Novel graphene UHMWPE nanocomposites prepared by polymerization filling using single-site catalysts supported on functionalized graphene nanosheet dispersions. Macromolecules 47: 7036-7042
  22. Zheng W, Lu X, Wong SC (2004) Electrical and mechanical properties of expanded graphite-reinforced high-density polyethylene. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2781-2788
  23. Hummers Jr WS, Offeman RE (1958) Preparation of graphitic oxide. J Am Chem Soc 80: 1339-1339
  24. Perera SD, Mariano RG, Vu K, Nour N, Seitz O, Chabal Y, Balkus Jr KJ (2012) Hydrothermal synthesis of graphene-TiO2 nanotube composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity. ACS Catalysis 2: 949-956
  25. Munoz-Escalona A, Fuentes A, Liscano J, Albornoz A (1990) High active Ziegler-Natta catalysts for homo- and copolymerization of ethylene by supporting a grignard compound and TiCl4 on SiO2. In: Studies in surface science and catalysis, T Keii, K Soga (Eds.), Kodansha, Tokyo, 377-404
  26. Nowlin E, Kissin YV, Wagner KP (1988) High activity Ziegler–Natta catalysts for the preparation of ethylene copolymers. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 26: 755-764
  27. Chien JCW, Wu JC, Kuo CI (1983) Magnesium chloride supported high-mileage catalysts for olefin polymerization. IV. FTIR and quantitative analysis of modifiers in the catalysts, J Polym Sci Pol Chem 21: 725-736
  28. Spitz R, Lacombe JL, Guyot A (1984) Catalyseurs Ziegler-Natta supportés sur MgCl2 pour la polymérisation stéréorégulée du propène. III. Systèmes catalytiques à hautes performances comprenant un solide ternaire: MgCl2, ester aromatique, TiCl4. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 22: 2641-2650
  29. Yang D, Velamakanni A, Bozoklu G, Park S, Stoller M, Piner RD, Stankovich S, Jung I, Field DA, Ventrice Jr CA, Ruoff RS (2009) Chemical analysis of graphene oxide films after heat and chemical treatments by X-ray photoelectron and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Carbon 47: 145-152
  30. Wang H, Robinson JT, Li X, Dai H (2009) Solvothermal reduction of chemically exfoliated graphene sheets. J Am Chem Soc 131: 9910-9911
  31. Huang Y, Qin Y, Wang N, Zhou Y, Niu H, Dong JY, Hu J, Wang Y (2012) Reduction of graphite oxide with a Grignard reagent for facile in situ preparation of electrically conductive polyolefin/ graphene nanocomposites. Macromol Chem Phys 213: 720-728
  32. Zhang HX, Lee YJ, Park JR, Lee DH, Yoon KB (2011) Control of molecular weight distribution for polypropylene obtained by commercial Ziegler-Natta catalyst: Effect of electron donor. Macromol Res 19: 622-628
  33. Sacchi MC, Forlini F, Tritto I, Mendichi R, Zannoni G, Noristi L (1992) Activation effect of alkoxysilanes as external donors in magnesium chloride-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Macromolecules 25: 5914-5918
  34. Kakugo M, Miyatake T, Naito Y, Mizunuma K (1988) Microtacticity distribution of polypropylenes prepared with heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Macromolecules 21: 314- 319
  35. Zhang HX, Shin YJ, Lee DH, Yoon KB (2011) Preparation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with MgCl2/TiCl4 catalyst: Effect of internal and external donor on molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Polym Bull 66: 627-635
  36. Song P, Cao Z, Cai Y, Zhao L, Fang Z, Fu S (2011) Fabrication of exfoliated graphene-based polypropylene nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties. Polymer 52: 4001-4010
  37. Milani MA, González D, Quijada R, Basso NRS, Cerrada ML, Azambuja DS, Galland GB (2013) Polypropylene/graphene nanosheet nanocomposites by in situ polymerization: Synthesis, characterization and fundamental properties. Compos Sci Technol 84: 1-7
  38. Bao C, Guo Y, Song L, Hu Y (2011) Poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites based on graphene and graphite oxide: A comparative investigation of property and mechanism. J Mater Chem 21: 13942-13950
  39. Goncalves G, Marques PAAP, Barros-Timmons A, Bdkin I, Singh MK, Emami N, Gracio J (2010) Graphene oxide modified with PMMA via ATRP as a reinforcement filler. J Mater Chem, 20: 9927- 9934

 

  • Receive Date 26 April 2016
  • Revise Date 10 July 2016
  • Accept Date 31 July 2016
  • First Publish Date 01 January 2017

Article View 10,683
PDF Download 4,279

Home

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us