Научная статья на тему 'ПОЛУЧЕНИЕ КОМПОЗИЦИОННЫХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ НА ОСНОВЕ ПОЛИЭТИЛЕНА МЕТОДОМ ПОЛИМЕРИЗАЦИИ IN SITU НА ТИТАН-МАГНИЕВОМ КАТАЛИЗАТОРЕ, ЗАКРЕПЛЕННОМ НА ПОВЕРХНОСТИ УГЛЕРОДНЫХ НАНОТРУБОК РАЗЛИЧНОГО ТИПА'

ПОЛУЧЕНИЕ КОМПОЗИЦИОННЫХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ НА ОСНОВЕ ПОЛИЭТИЛЕНА МЕТОДОМ ПОЛИМЕРИЗАЦИИ IN SITU НА ТИТАН-МАГНИЕВОМ КАТАЛИЗАТОРЕ, ЗАКРЕПЛЕННОМ НА ПОВЕРХНОСТИ УГЛЕРОДНЫХ НАНОТРУБОК РАЗЛИЧНОГО ТИПА Текст научной статьи по специальности «Химические науки»

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УГЛЕРОДНЫЕ НАНОТРУБКИ / ПОЛИЭТИЛЕН / НАНОКОМПОЗИТЫ / МЕТОД ПОЛИМЕРИЗАЦИОННОГО НАПОЛНЕНИЯ / ПОЛИМЕРИЗАЦИЯ IN SITU / CARBON NANOTUBES / POLYETHYLENE / NANOCOMPOSITES / POLYMERIZATION FILLING METHOD / IN SITU POLYMERIZATION

Аннотация научной статьи по химическим наукам, автор научной работы — Зданович А. А., Мацько М. А., Мележик А. В., Ткачев А. Г., Захаров В. А.

Представлены данные о получении композиционных материалов, содержащих полиэтилен и многостенные углеродные нанотрубки (МУНТ) марки Таунит. Для получения этих композитов методом полимеризации in situ использована каталитическая система, сформированная при взаимодействии магнийорганического соединения и TiCl4 на поверхности нанотрубок. Закрепленный на поверхности МУНТ катализатор обладает высокой активностью в полимеризации этилена и позволяет получать полимер с различной молекулярной массой. Представлены данные о формировании полимера на поверхности МУНТ и морфология полиэтилена, образующегося на различных образцах Таунит.

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Похожие темы научных работ по химическим наукам , автор научной работы — Зданович А. А., Мацько М. А., Мележик А. В., Ткачев А. Г., Захаров В. А.

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PREPARATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS CONTAINING POLYETHYLENE AND CARBON NANOTUBES BY IN SITU ETHYLENE POLYMERIZATION OVER TITANIUM-MAGNESIUM CATALYST FIXED ON THE SURFACE OF CARBON NANOTUBES

The data on the preparation of composite materials containing polyethylene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of the Taunit brand are presented. To obtain these composites by in situ polymerization, a catalytic system formed by the interaction of an organomagnesium compound and TiCl4 on the surface of nanotubes was used. The catalyst fixed on the MWCNT surface has a high activity in ethylene polymerization and allows to obtain a polymer with different molecular weight. The data on the formation of a polymer on the MWCNT surface and the morphology of composites formed on various Taunit samples are presented.

Текст научной работы на тему «ПОЛУЧЕНИЕ КОМПОЗИЦИОННЫХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ НА ОСНОВЕ ПОЛИЭТИЛЕНА МЕТОДОМ ПОЛИМЕРИЗАЦИИ IN SITU НА ТИТАН-МАГНИЕВОМ КАТАЛИЗАТОРЕ, ЗАКРЕПЛЕННОМ НА ПОВЕРХНОСТИ УГЛЕРОДНЫХ НАНОТРУБОК РАЗЛИЧНОГО ТИПА»

DOI: 10.17277/amt.2020.03.pp.033-042

Preparation of Composite Materials Containing Polyethylene and Carbon Nanotubes by in situ Ethylene Polymerization over Titanium-Magnesium Catalyst Fixed

on the Surface of Carbon Nanotubes

*

A.A. Zdanovich1, M.A. Matsko1, A.V. Melezhik2 , A.G. Tkachev2, V.A. Zakharov1

1 Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Lavrentiev Ave. 5 (Prospekt Akademika Lavrentieva 5), Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia; Tambov State Technical University, NanoTechCenter, 106, Sovetskaya St., Tambov, 392000, Russia

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +7 4752 63 92 93. E-mail address: nanocarbon@rambler.ru

Abstract

The data on the preparation of composite materials containing polyethylene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of the Taunit brand are presented. To obtain these composites by in situ polymerization, a catalytic system formed by the interaction of an organomagnesium compound and TiCl4 on the surface of nanotubes was used. The catalyst fixed on the MWCNT surface has a high activity in ethylene polymerization and allows to obtain a polymer with different molecular weight. The data on the formation of a polymer on the MWCNT surface and the morphology of composites formed on various Taunit samples are presented.

Keywords

Carbon nanotubes; polyethylene; nanocomposites; polymerization filling method; in situ polymerization.

© A.A. Zdanovich, M.A. Matsko, A.V. Melezhik, A.G. Tkachev, V.A. Zakharov, 2020

Introduction

Recently, it has been of great interest to create new polymer-carbon nanocomposites due to their improved physical and mechanical properties compared to pure polymer. They are widely in demand in various fields of technology [1, 2]. Such composite materials have high strength, low density, and the introduction of conductive carbon nanomaterials into polymer structure makes it possible to control their electrophysical properties. Widespread methods for introducing fillers, based on the methods of mechanical mixing of polymer melts, have significant limitations due to the inhomogeneity of the obtained composite materials. To obtain polymer composites with a uniform and controlled distribution of the carbon component in the polymer matrix, the well-known in situ polymerization method [3] seems to be promising. This method consists in anchoring catalysts of various compositions on the surface of carbon nanomaterial (CNM) and carrying out the olefin polymerization on an anchored catalyst.

A large number of studies have been performed on the preparation of polyolefin / CNM composite materials by in situ polymerization using various types of catalytic systems: Ziegler - Natta [4-7], metallocenes [8-10], and post-metallocenes [11]. Among these catalytic systems, Ziegler-type catalysts are the easiest to obtain. Moreover, having high activity they allow to control the molecular structure of the resulting polymer over a wide range.

Earlier, we proposed a simple and effective method for the formation of a titanium-magnesium catalytic system on the surface of carbon nanotubes by fixing hydrocarbon-soluble magnesium dialkyls (MgR2) on structural defects of MWCNTs followed by the deposition of the active component (TiCl4) [12].

This work presents this method to fix a titanium-magnesium catalytic system on the surface of Taunit MWCNT samples that differ in morphology, structural characteristics, and degree of purity (residual content of the catalyst used in the synthesis of MWCNTs). The data on the composition of the catalytic system formed on the MWCNT surface and its activity in

ethylene polymerization were received. Composite materials using Taunit samples with different morphologies, varied content of MWCNTs, and varied molecular weight of polyethylene were obtained. The morphology of the polymer formed on the surface of various MWCNT samples was studied.

Experiment

Starting materials

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes manufactured by NanoTechCenter, Tambov were used. Nanotubes were grown in an industrial reactor from a propane-butane mixture on metal oxide catalysts, which were mixed oxides CoMoAlMgO or FeMoAlMgO. Moreover, an increase in the CVD synthesis time leads to an increase in the mass yields of CNTs, an increase in their length, and at the same time an increase in their degree of aggregation. In order to reveal the effect of these factors on the properties of polymer composites, several batches of CNTs were synthesized at different growth times.

Taunit Co-40 - MWNTs of the Taunit-M type obtained on a cobalt catalyst with a growth time of 40 min. The content of the CoMoAlMgO catalyst is 4.1 %. The specific surface area is 379 m2/g. The bulk density is 20 g/dm3.

Taunit Co-5 - MWNTs of the Taunit-M type obtained on a cobalt catalyst, but with a very short growth time (5 minutes). The content of the CoMoAlMgO catalyst is 12.0 %. The bulk density is 6 g/dm . The low bulk density may indicate that with a short growth time the nanotubes do not have time to agglomerate and form the very bulky mass.

Taunite Fe - MWNTs of the Taunit-M type obtained on an iron catalyst in an experimental flow reactor. The estimated contact time of growing nanotubes with a carbon source gas is about 30 minutes. In these nanotubes the content of the FeMoAlMgO catalyst is 9.4 %. The specific surface area is 467 m2/g. The bulk density is 30 g/dm3.

Taunit Fe-15 - MWNTs of the Taunit-M type obtained on an iron catalyst with a growth time of 15 min. The content of the FeMoAlMgO catalyst is 7.3 %. The specific surface is 183 m2/g. The bulk density is 10 g/dm . It can also be seen here that with the short growth time nanotubes with the low bulk density are obtained probably due to the weak aggregation of such nanotubes.

Taunite Fe-15P is a batch of short MWCNTs Taunit Fe-15 purified from the catalyst by treatment with hydrochloric acid. The residual catalyst content is less than 1 %.

The outer diameter of all nanotubes is in the range of 10-20 nm.

Commercial dibutyl magnesium ("Acros Organics") in the form of a solution in heptane with a concentration of 0.5 M contains triethylaluminium, 1 wt. %, the molar ratio is Mg/Al = 8.2).

Preparation of the catalytic system fixed on the MWCNT surface

A 0.5-gram mass of MWCNTs was loaded into a glass reactor and dried in vacuum (10 torr) at a temperature of 250 °C for 4 h. Then, the reactor was cooled to room temperature and filled with argon. Then, in a stream of argon, 50 ml of heptane was added to the dried MWCNTs. With vigorous stirring, a solution of the magnesium-aluminum complex (MgBu2 x 0.1 AlEt3) in heptane was added at the ratio of 2 mmol MgBu2 per g of MWCNTs. The resulting suspension was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature, then the liquid phase was decanted, the precipitate was washed twice with pure heptane, and heptane was added to a total volume of 50 ml. Then, a solution of TiCl4 in heptane was introduced with stirring at the ratio of 2 mmol TiCVg of MWCNTs. The catalyst suspension was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature, then the liquid phase was decanted, the precipitate was washed twice with heptane. Heptane was then added to a total volume of 250 ml.

The magnesium and titanium contents in the catalysts were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP AES) using a PerkinElmer Optima 4300 DV instrument.

Preparation of MWCNT/PE composite by in situ polymerization

Composites were prepared in a steel reactor with a volume of 1 liter. Before polymerization, the reactor

was evacuated at 80 °C and residual pressure of

-2

10 torr, then it was cooled to room temperature and filled with argon. Before polymerization, the catalyst suspension in heptanes was dispersed for 30 minutes in a Sapphire ultrasonic bath (volume 1.3 l, frequency 35 kHz, generator power 50 W). Then, a suspension containing MWCNTs with an anchored catalyst (0.10.2 g in 250 ml of heptane) was introduced in a stream of argon into a polymerization reactor. After that, a cocatalyst (triethyl aluminum, 3.8 mmol/l) was introduced with stirring into the reactor, then the reaction mixture was heated to a temperature of 80 °C. The reactor was feed by ethylene (1-2 bar). Hydrogen (1 bar) was used to control the molecular weight of the resulting polymer. The polymer yield was controlled by changing of the polymerization time.

Methods for studying the properties of composites

The intrinsic viscosity (n) of the polymer component of MWCNT/PE composites was measured in decalin at 135 °C on a Ubbelode viscometer. The viscosity average molecular weight was calculated by the Margolies formula (1):

4 1 49

Mv = 5.37 x 104 x [n]149.

The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymer component of MWNT/PE composites was determined on a PL-220 high-temperature liquid gel permeation chromatograph at a temperature of 160 °C in an eluent of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, at a flow rate of 1 cm3/min. To separate the polymers, a PL Gel Olexis column kit was used. To construct the calibration curves, polyethylene and polystyrene standards were used in a wide range of molecular weights (MW) (750-13200000 g/mol).

Electron microscopic images of MWCNTs and MWCNT/PE composites were obtained using a scanning electron microscope (JSM6460LV, Jeol). To do the research, the samples were fixed on a copper holder using carbon tape. To prevent recharging of the studied MWNT/PE samples, a thin layer of gold (coating thickness 10-15 nm) was preliminarily applied (sprayed).

The uniformity of the MWCNT distribution in the polymer matrix was evaluated using optical microscopy (a ZEISS Stemi 2000-C microscope equipped with a CMOS camera, magnification ratio from 64 to 100). The preparation of thin films of the samples was carried out by hot pressing at a temperature of 160°C and a pressure of 400 kg/cm .

Results and discussion

The formation of a catalytic system for ethylene polymerization on the MWCNT TAUNIT surface

The most effective Ziegler-Natta catalysts for ethylene polymerization are supported systems that contain highly dispersed magnesium dichloride as a support and titanium chlorides as an active component (titanium-magnesium catalysts - TMC).

In the present work, we used the MgBu2 x x 0.1 AlEt3 complex dissolved in heptane as the initial organomagnesium compound to form a catalyst on the surface of MWCNTs.

Table 1 presents data on the chemical composition of the catalytic systems formed on the surface of the MWCNT Taunit.

Table 1

Data on the chemical composition of catalytic systems formed on the surface of Taunit samples of various modifications

Experiment qnt Taunit Catalyst composition

tyPe Mg, mmol/g Ti, mmol/g Mg/Ti

1 Co-40 0.8 0.8 1.0

2 Co-5 0.9 0.5 1.8

3 Fe 1.0 0.7 1.4

4 Fe-15 1.0 0.9 1.1

5 Fe-15 P 0.8 1.1 0.7

In all cases (Table 1), a close amount of the organomagnesium compound 0.8-1.0 mmol/g is fixed on the surface of Taunit samples of various modifications, which leads to a rather high Mg content (1.9-2.4 wt. %). After treating the suspension of MWNT/MgBu2 with a TiCl4 solution, the amount of anchored titanium was 0.7-1.1 mmol/g (3.7-5.3 wt. % Ti). The molar ratio Ti/Mg is close to MWCNTs of various modifications; it is within the range 1.9-2.2. These results correspond to the data obtained earlier in the study of the catalyst formation on the MWCNT surface obtained on the Fe - Co catalyst [12]. It was shown in [12] that the formation of an active catalyst on the MWCNT surface occurs as a result of anchoring MgBu2 on the surface defects of MWCNTs. The subsequent treatment of MgBu2 with a TiCl4 solution leads to the formation of a polymerization catalyst containing complexes of titanium and magnesium on the MWCNT surface.

It should be noted that the purification of the Taunit Fe-15 MWCNTs (containing 7.3 % FeMoAlMgO) from the catalyst has little effect on the amount of magnesium and titanium compounds to be anchored. A higher amount of the fixed active component in the Taunit MWCNTs can be noted in comparison with the data of [12], which can probably be explained by a higher content of defects on the Taunit MWCNT surface.

Using the polymerization filling method, composites based on various types of MWNTs and polyethylene were obtained. Tables 2 and 3 show data on the effect of the MWNT Taunit type on the catalyst activity fixed on their surface in ethylene polymerization and the properties of the obtained composites. Kinetic curves of ethylene polymerization on Taunit/MgBu2/ TiCl4 systems are shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Table 2

The effect of the MWCNT Taunit type on the activity of the catalyst fixed on their surface in ethylene polymerization and molecular weight distribution of the obtained composites

Experiment number MWCNT type t, min Yield, g PE/g MWCNT MWCNT, wt. % Activity, kg PE/[mole Ti time bar] Mw, kg/mol Mw/Mn

1 Taunit Co-40 38 140 0.7 138 - -

2 3 4 Taunit Co-5 Taunit Co-5 Taunit Co-5 0.85 5 28 11 50 232 8.3 2.0 0.4 323 420 360 82 100 5.1 5.3

5 6 7 Taunit Fe Taunit Fe Taunit Fe 2 20 64 3 46 124 23 2.1 0.8 169 100 51 - -

8 9 10 Taunit Fe-15 Taunit Fe-15 Taunit Fe-15 (Och) 2 23 11 5 180 84 8.1 0.5 1.2 266 264 214 130 4.8

Polymerization conditions: 80 °C, 2 bar C2H4, 1 bar H2, [AlEt3] = 3.8 mmol/l.

Table 3

The activity of the TMC catalyst anchored on the Taunit Co-5 surface at ethylene polymerization in the absence of hydrogen and the molecular weight of the obtained ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

Experiment number

t, min

Yield, g PE/g MWCNT

MWCNT, wt. %

Activity, kg PE/[mole Ti time bar]

Mn, kg/mole

11 13 100 1.0

Polymerization conditions: 40 °C, 1 bar C2H4, [AlEt3] = 3.8 mmol/l.

421

2 600

Fig. 1. Kinetic curves of ethylene polymerization Fig. 2. Kinetic curves of ethylene polymerization

on the Taunit-Co/MgBu2/TiCl4 catalyst system on the Taunit-Fe/MgBu2/TiCl4 catalyst system

(experiment numbers correspond to those given in Table 2) (experiment numbers correspond to those given in Table 2)

It can be noted that shorter nanotube samples (Taunit Co-5, Taunit Fe-15 and Taunit Fe-15P) show a higher activity in ethylene polymerization in comparison with long nanotubes (Taunit Co-40 and Taunit Fe). Apparently, due to the short growth time, Taunit Co-5, Taunit Fe-15 and Taunit Fe-15P are the least aggregated and the lightest. The higher activity of the catalytic systems formed on their surface is probably associated with a looser morphology of short tubes and, as a consequence, a greater availability of active sites for the monomer. Kinetic curves of ethylene polymerization shown in Fig. 1 and 2 are relatively stationary, which makes it possible to obtain composites with the required MWCNT content by varying the reaction time.

The effect of the type of carbon nanotubes on the molecular weight characteristics of the polymers obtained on the MWCNT/MgBu2/TiCl4 catalyst was studied. The method of gel permeation chromatography was used to analyze the polymer components of the composites obtained under identical conditions on the MgBu2/TiCl4 system immobilized on Taunit Co-5 and Taunit Fe-15. The results presented in Table 2 show that the catalytic system anchored to the samples of MWCNT Taunit of various modifications produces a polymer with close molecular weight (82-130 kg/mol) and close molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 4.8 - 5.3).

On the Taunit Co-5/MgBu2/TiCl4 catalyst system, a polymer composite with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was obtained (Table 3). The polymer part of the composite, obtained at 40 °C and an ethylene pressure of 1 bar, is characterized by a viscosity of 13.6 dl/g, which corresponds to a molecular weight of 2600 kg/mol. It should be noted that the high activity of the catalytic system is maintained even at a low polymerization temperature (40 °C) upon receipt of UHMMPE (Table 3).

To sum it up, it can be noted: the high activity of the catalytic system in a wide temperature range (40-80 °C) which allows to obtain a high polymer yield under mild conditions (C2 = 2 bar); the stability of the kinetic curve which allows to obtain composites with the required MWCNT content, varying the reaction time, as well as the weak dependence of the molecular weight characteristics of the polymer part on the type of support (carbon nanomaterial).

Studying the morphology of polyethylene formed during ethylene polymerization on the TAUNIT/TMCsystem

Using the method of scanning electron microscopy, the influence of the MWCNT morphology (Taunit Co-40 and Co-5, Taunit Fe and Fe-15) on the

morphology of MWCNT/PE composites obtained by in situ polymerization (see Figs. 3 and 4) was studied. It can be seen that all the presented samples of MWCNT powders at the macro level are agglomerates (macro particles) in the form of elongated curved sheets ("lamellas") of various sizes (from 30 to 300 ^m; Fig. 3a, d and Fig. 4a, d). With a scaling-up one can notice that these "lamellas" are quite loose and consist of entangled nanotubes (Fig. 3b-c, e-f, Fig. 4b-c, e-f).

In order to study the peculiarities of the formation process of Taunite/PE MWCNT composites depending on the MWCNT type, composites with low yields were obtained: 3 g PE/g Taunite Fe-15, 5 g PE/g Taunite Fe and 11 g PE/g Taunite Co-5 (see Fig. 5-7). Figs. 5-7 show microphotographs of composites based on MWCNT Taunit in comparison with microphotographs of the corresponding nanotubes.

During the growth of polyethylene on the Taunit Fe/TMC sample (sample 5, the yield of 3 g PE/g MWCNTs) shows that there is a partial destruction of MWCNT agglomerates (Fig. 5d-e) and the formation of polymer microparticles in the form of disks (diameters from 120 to 300 nm ) on MWNT fibers (Fig. 5f).

During the polymerization on TMC on the Taunit Fe-15 MWCNTs (composite 8, yield 5 g PE/g MWCNTs), more complete destruction of "the lamellas" occurs (Fig. 6d), and the formation of loose agglomerates consisting of round particles of 200-500 nm in size is observed (Fig. 6e). Polymeric disks are characterized by a diameter of 100-600 nm (Fig. 6f).

Fig. 7 shows photographs of sample 2 with the yield of 11 g PE/g MWCNT obtained on the Taunit Co-5/TMC catalyst system. Compared with the initial Taunit Co-5 agglomerates (Fig. 7a), Fig. 7d shows that in situ polymerization completely destroys "the lamellas" of the initial nanotubes with the formation of loose aggregates larger than 50 ^m in size, consisting of round particles. In Fig. 7f smooth fibers with a diameter of 60-90 nm can be seen. These are probably nanotubes coated with a thin layer of polymer. Also, the formation of a large number of individual circular particles of polymer diameters of 400-600 nm is visible.

Fig. 8 shows microphotographs of composite 3 characterized by a higher yield of PE on the Taunit Co-5 MWCNTs (50 g PE/g MWCNTs). Photographs on Figs. 8a, b show that the destruction of large aggregates of the size that were previously observed in Fig. 7d occurs for a sample with a lower yield (11 g PE/g MWCNTs). Fig. 8c, d show that the polymer grows on the MWCNT surface in the form of polymer disks, with a disk thickness of about 10-20 nm. In Fig. 8d, at maximum magnification, one can notice a separate nanotube coated with an inhomogeneous polymer layer.

Taunit Co-5

Fig. 3. SEM photographs of the starting samples of MWCNT Taunit obtained on a Co catalyst

d) .......... e) f)

Taunit Fe-15

Fig. 4. SEM photographs of the starting samples of MWCNT Taunit obtained on a Fe catalyst

d) e) f)

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3 g PE / g MWCNT Taunite Fe (Sample 5) Fig. 5. SEM photographs of the starting sample of MWCNT Taunit Fe and composite PE/Taunit Fe

(3 g PE/g MWCNT, Sample 5 in Table 2)

5 g PE / g MWCNT Taunite Fe-15 (Sample 8) Fig. 6. SEM photographs of the starting sample of MWCNT Taunit Fe-15 and composite PE/Taunit Fe-15

(5 g PE/g MWCNTs, Sample 8 in Table 2)

Composite 11 g PE/g Taunit Co-5 (Sample 2)

Fig. 7. SEM photographs of the starting sample of MWCNT Taunit Co-5 and composite PE/Taunit Co-5

(11 r PE/g MWCNTs, Sample 2 in Table 2)

Fig. 8. SEM photographs of the composite 50 g PE/Taunit Co-5 (Sample 3 in Table 2)

Sample 1. 140 g PE/g Taunit Co-40 Sample 9. 180 g PE/g Taunit Fe-15

Fig. 9. Typical photographs of MWCNT Taunit/PE composite powders

Sample 1. 140 g PE/g Taunit Co-40 Sample 9. 180 g PE/g Taunit Fe-15

Fig. 10. Typical photographs of films of MWCNT Taunit/PE composites

The obtained samples of Taunit/PE MWCNT composites are homogeneous gray powders, a typical form of which is shown in Fig. 9. No formation of separate white particles of pure PE, as well as individual black particles of MWCNT agglomerates, was observed, indicating a uniform coating of MWCNTs with polyethylene particles. Thin films of MWCNT/PE composites (thickness ~ 100 ^m) were obtained by hot pressing and studied by optical microscopy (Fig. 10). Fig. 10 shows that the size of the residual MWCNT agglomerates in the film samples, as a rule, does not exceed 50 ^m. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that MWCNTs are fairly evenly distributed in the polymer matrix of composites and the developed method is promising for producing composites with different content of MWCNTs, both

masterbatch and finished composites based on MWCNTs of various types and polyethylene.

Conclusion

This work shows the possibility of the formation of the MgR2/TiCl4 catalytic system for ethylene polymerization on the surface of various types of Taunit multi-walled carbon nanotubes. It was found out that 0.8-1.0 mmol Mg/g MWCNTs and 0.5-1.1 mmol Ti/g MWCNTs are fixed on the MWCNT surface. The formed catalyst system exhibits high activity (up to ~ 400 kg PE/[mol Ti hour bar]) in a wide temperature range (from 40 to 80 °C). The stationary profile of the kinetic curves of ethylene polymerization allows to obtain composites with the required MWCNT content by varying the reaction time.

Using scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that during in situ polymerization, the MWCNT agglomerates are destroyed. The polymer grows on the MWCNT surface in the form of disks and, with an increase in the yield, uniformly covers the surface of the nanotube. The optical microscopy in thin films of composites obtained by hot pressing shows that the size of residual MWCNT agglomerates, as a rule, does not exceed 50 pm. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that MWCNTs are fairly evenly distributed in the polymer matrix of composites and the developed method is promising for producing both masterbatch and finished composites based on MWCNTs of various types and polyethylene. At the same time, the developed approach allows to vary widely both the MWCNT content in composites (23-0.5 % and less) and the molecular weight of the obtained polyethylene (from 82-130 up to 2600 kg/mol).

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to A.N. Serkova and N.A. Rudina for receiving microphotographs of the studied images. The studies were conducted using the equipment of the Center for Collective Use "National Center of Catalyst Research". This work was carried out within the framework of the budget project for Boreskov Institute of Catalysis.

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