High-Performance Polypropylene-Clay Nanocomposites by In-situ Polymerization with Metallocene/Clay Catalysts

A novel in‐situ polymerization approach has been used to manufacture polyolefin–clay nanocomposites (see Figure) with amazingly enhanced performance. The nanocomposites demonstrate reduced thermal expansion coefficients, improved melt flow strengths, increased heat‐distortion temperatures, and lowered gas diffusion coefficients. Their improved Young’s modulus may help these composites to compete with expensive engineering plastics.