Nanostructured Polyethylene Reactor Blends with Tailored Trimodal Molar Mass Distributions as Melt-Processable All-Polymer Composites

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b01407
• Publication Date: 2016-10-21T12:05:41Z
• Authors: Markus Stürzel; Timo Hees; Markus Enders; Yi Thomann; Hannes Blattmann; Rolf Mülhaupt
• Keywords: Molar mass; High-density polyethylene; Molding (decorative)

Tailoring trimodal polyethylene (PE) molar mass distributions by means of ethylene polymerization on three-site catalysts, supported functionalized graphene (FG), enables nanophase separation during and melt processing, paralleled PE self-reinforcement. Typically, FG/MAO-supported catalysts combine bis(iminopyridyl)chromium trichloride (CrBIP), producing wax having high crystallization rate, quinolylcyclopentadienylchromium dichloride (CrQCp), forming in situ ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMWPE) nanostructures, with bis(iminopyridyl)iron (FeBIP) or bis(tert-butyl cyclopentadienyl)zirconium (ZrCp), respectively, HDPE variable intermediate mass. During injection molding, the formation shish-kebab fiber-like extended-chain UHMWPE structures, as verified SEM, AFM, DSC, account for effective Only presence content, wax, usually an unwanted byproduct synthesis, functions a built-in processing aid incorporation much higher contents (30 wt %) than previously thought to be tolerable molding. Whereas UHMWPE/PE blends improves stiffness strength, simultaneous FG dispersion accounts substantially impact strength.