Organic–inorganic polymeric nanocomposites involving novel titanium tetraisopropylate in polyethylene–octene elastomer

Abstract

AbstractThe new nanocomposites, by means of an in situ sol–gel process consisting of metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) and titanium tetraisopropylate (TTIP), were investigated. In addition, the acrylic acid grafted POE (POE‐g‐AA) was studied as an alternative to POE. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) spectrometer, an X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), an Instron mechanical tester, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to characterize and examine the samples. The results indicate that the POE‐g‐AA/TiO2 hybrid could have a positive effect on the properties of the POE/TiO2 hybrid because the carboxylic acid groups of acrylic acid should act as coordination sites for the titania phase to form a TiOC chemical bond. The strength of interfacial bonding between the polymer chains and the ceramic phase depended on the amount of TiO2, as shown by the change in glass‐transition temperature (Tg) with TiO2 content. The result of mechanical and thermal tests showed that both the tensile strength and the Tg increased to a maximum value and then decreased with an increasing of TiO2 because excess particles (e.g., greater than 10 wt % TiO2) might cause separation or segregation between the organic and inorganic phases. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4272–4280, 2004