Synthesis of Ethylene/Acrylonitrile Composite Elastomers with Nanosized Polyacrylonitrile Domains Using α-Dimine-[N,N] Nickel Dichloride/EASC

A series of ethylene and acrylonitrile composite elastomers were prepared using (1,4‐bis(2,6diisopropylphenyl)‐acenaphtenediimine‐nickel(II))‐dichloride/ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC). The xylene‐soluble polymer fraction showed nitrile bands in infrared spectroscopy at 2 245 and 2 214 cm−1 and polyacrylonitrile‐enriched structures were detected in the xylene‐insoluble fraction by1H and 13C NMR. In addition, TEM detected nanosized polyacrylonitrile domains dispersed in the polyethylene matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry scans conducted from −70 to 350 °C measured exothermic bands corresponding to the cyclization and aromatization of the nitrile groups dispersed in the polyethylene matrix. Ethylene/acrylonitrile composite elastomers are prepared using a Ni‐diimine catalyst. The composite is characterized by nanosized PAN domains dispersed into the polyethylene matrix. The good dispersion of the PAN domains indicates the presence of a small fraction of ethylene/acrylonitrile copolymer chains that compatibilize the two other major polymer phases in the composite. The composite elastomer has the characteristic yellow color of PAN rubbers, and the TEM imaging depicts the nanosized PAN domains dispersed in the polyethylene matrix.