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Synthesis of LLDPE/TiO2 nanocomposites by in situ polymerization with zirconocene/dMMAO catalyst: effect of [Al]/[Zr] ratios and TiO2 phases

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Abstract

This article reveals the dependence of crystalline phases in titania on the intrinsic activity during in situ polymerization of ethylene/1-hexene using the zirconocene/dMMAO catalyst to produce LLDPE/TiO2 nanocomposites. First, the TiO2 nanoparticles having different crystalline phases were employed as the nanofillers by impregnation with dMMAO to obtain dMMAO/TiO2. Then, copolymerization of ethylene/1-hexene using zirconocene catalyst was performed in the presence of dMMAO/TiO2. It was found that the catalytic activity derived from the anatase TiO2 (A) was about four times higher than that obtained from the rutile TiO2 (R). This was likely due to higher intrinsic activity of the active species present on the TiO2 (A). In addition, increased [Al]dMMAO/[Zr]cat ratios apparently resulted in enhanced activities for both TiO2 (A) and TiO2 (R). However, the TiO2 (R) showed less deactivation upon increased [Al]dMMAO/[Zr]cat ratios. This can be attributed to strong interaction between dMMAO and TiO2 (R) as proven by the TGA measurement. The microstructure of the LLDPE/TiO2 obtained was found to be random copolymer for both TiO2 (A) and TiO2 (R).

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under DBG52-B. Jongsomjit project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Center of Excellence on Catalysis and Catalytic Reaction Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Wathanyoo Owpradit, Joongjai Panpranot, Artiwan Shotipruk & Bunjerd Jongsomjit

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology, Silapakorn University, Nakhonprathom, 26000, Thailand

    Okorn Mekasuwandumrong

Authors
  1. Wathanyoo Owpradit
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  2. Okorn Mekasuwandumrong
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  3. Joongjai Panpranot
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  4. Artiwan Shotipruk
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  5. Bunjerd Jongsomjit
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Correspondence to Bunjerd Jongsomjit.

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Owpradit, W., Mekasuwandumrong, O., Panpranot, J. et al. Synthesis of LLDPE/TiO2 nanocomposites by in situ polymerization with zirconocene/dMMAO catalyst: effect of [Al]/[Zr] ratios and TiO2 phases. Polym. Bull. 66, 479–490 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-010-0287-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-010-0287-9

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