[3-t-Bu-2-O-C6H3CH=N(C6F5)]2TiCl2 catalyst (FI catalyst) has been used to synthesize the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with no or very low degree of chain entanglement. In this work, the FI catalyst is immobilized on disilanolisobutyl POSS. The presence of POSS seems to change the �living� feature of the FI catalyst, and the polymer yield by in situ polymerization of ethylene is not high. Accidentally, the resulting (UHMWPE)/POSS nanocomposite is an interesting material that could not be easily made by mechanical blending. The disilanolisobutyl POSS is dispersed uniformly in the UHMWPE matrix with particles size of only several tens of nanometers, and the incorporation of the POSS into nascent UHMWPE matrix leads to a strong interaction between the POSS particles and the UHMWPE chains, as reflected by rheological test. Moreover, the crystallinity and the lamellae thickness of nascent UHMWPE increase with POSS loading, as observed by differential scanning calorimetry. Detailed study using differential scanning calorimetry reveals that the POSS particles are served as nucleating agents. Finally, the thermal stability and the hydrophilic property of the nanocomposite are also improved.

UHMWPE/POSS nanocomposites prepared by ethylene in-situ polymerization

248th National Meeting (2014)

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