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Research Project
SÍNTESE DE MATERIAIS POLIMÉRICOS C/ PROPRIEDADES ESPECÍFICAS A ESCALA NANOMÉTRICA, UTILISANDO MATERIAIS MESOPOROSOS E POLIMERIZAÇÃO IN-SITU
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Hybrid materials based on polyethylene and MCM-41 microparticles functionalized with silanes: catalytic aspects of in situ polymerization, crystalline features and mechanical properties
Publication . Cerrada, M. L.; Bento, A.; Pérez, Ernesto; Lorenzo, V.; Lourenço, J. P.; Ribeiro, M. R.
New nanocomposites based on polyethylene have been prepared by in situ polymerization of ethylene in
presence of mesoporous MCM-41. The polymerization reactions were performed using a zirconocene
catalyst either under homogenous conditions or supported onto mesoporous MCM-41 particles, which
are synthesized and decorated post-synthesis with two silanes before polymerization in order to promote
an enhanced interfacial adhesion. The existence of polyethylene chains able to crystallize within
the mesoporous channels in the resulting nanocomposites is figured out from the small endothermic
process, located at around 80 C, on heating calorimetric experiments, in addition to the main melting
endotherm. These results indicate that polyethylene macrochains can grow up during polymerization
either outside or inside the MCM-41 channels, these keeping their regular hexagonal arrangements.
Mechanical response is observed to be dependent on the content in mesoporous MCM-41 and on the
crystalline features of polyethylene. Accordingly, stiffness increases and deformability decreases in the
nanocomposites as much as MCM-41 content is enlarged and polyethylene amount within channels is
raised. Ultimate mechanical performance improves with MCM-41 incorporation without varying the
final processing temperature.
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Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
PIDDAC
Funding Award Number
SFRH/BD/47212/2008