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. 2018 Oct 30:6:524.
doi: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00524. eCollection 2018.

Nano-Dispersed Ziegler-Natta Catalysts for 1 μm-Sized Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Particles

Patchanee Chammingkwan  1 , Yusuke Bando  1 , Minoru Terano  1 , Toshiaki Taniike  1
Affiliations

Nano-Dispersed Ziegler-Natta Catalysts for 1 μm-Sized Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Particles

Patchanee Chammingkwan et al. Front Chem. .

Abstract

A catalytic approach to synthesize microfine ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) particles was proposed based on the exploitation of nano-sized catalysts. By utilizing MgO nanoparticles as a core material, a Ziegler-Natta-type MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 core-shell catalyst with the particle size in a nano-range scale was prepared in a simple preparation step. The organic modification of MgO surfaces prior to catalyzation prevented agglomeration and facilitated the full dispersion of catalyst particles at a primary particle level for the first time. The nano-dispersed catalysts successfully afforded a direct access to UHMWPE having the particle size in the range of 1-2 μm at a reasonable activity. Extremely fine polymer particles yielded several advantages, especially at a significantly lower fusion temperature in compression molding.

Keywords: magnesium oxide; microfine; nano-dispersed; nano-sized catalyst; polyethylene; ultra-high molecular weight; ziegler-natta.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Particle size distribution profiles of MgO50 before and after treating with different types of organic modifiers (A), and different amounts of polyoxyethylene alkylamine (B). The analysis was conducted as a suspension in heptane unless stated. TEM images of pristine MgO50 and PA-MgO50 (C).
Figure 2
Figure 2
ATR-IR spectra of PA-MgO50, referenced to pristine MgO50.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Particle size distribution profiles for MgO50 and before and after catalyzation (A), and those for catalyst samples prepared from organically modified MgO having different particle sizes (B).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Morphology of polymer reactor powder: microscope images of PE50 (A), and PE200 (B). SEM images of PA-PE50 (C), PA-PE200 (D), and R-PE (E).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Polymer particle characteristics: particle size distribution profiles of polymer reactor powder in ethanol (A), microscope image of PA-PE50 dispersed on a glass plate (B), and particle characteristics based on an image analysis of vacuum-dispersed polymer particles (C).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Compression-molded polymer reactor powder at different temperatures.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Melting behavior of polymer reactor powder after being annealed at 135°C for 60 min. Dashed lines are melting behavior for nascent and melt-crystallized forms as references.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Scratch resistant of UHMWPE-coated HDPE: appearance of specimens (A), and SEM images after the scratch test (B). The arrows indicate the scratch direction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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