Easy one-pot method to control the morphology of polyethylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites using metallocene catalysts

An easy one pot method is demonstrated for the controlled periodical surface coating of polyethylene over multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by insitu polymerization of ethylene using highly active metallocene catalysts (Cp 2 ZrCl 2 and Cp 2 TiCl 2 ) in combination with methylalumoxane. The crystallinity of the nanocomposite was increased and its morphology could be tuned from “sausage” like to “shish-kebab” in the presence of CNT depending on the experimental condition and choice of metal atom. Figure A convenient one-pot method is illustrated to control the morphology of polymer nanocomposite by simple mixing of metallocene catalyst (Cp 2 ZrCl 2 or Cp 2 TiCl 2 ) and MWCNT in toluene at normal conditions followed by the activation with MAO. The crystallinity of the nanocomposite is increased and the polymer morphology could be tuned from “sausage” like to “shish-kebab”, depending on the experimental conditions.