Polymerization Compounding on the Surface of Zirconia Nanoparticles |
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Authors: | Babak Esmaeili Jamal Chaouki Charles Dubois |
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Institution: | Département de Génie Chimique, École Polytechnique de Montréal, C.P. 6079, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3A7, Canada |
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Abstract: | Zirconia nanoparticles were encapsulated by polyethylene via a polymerization compounding method using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The chemical reaction was carried out in an organic solvent under moderate pressure of ethylene monomer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated the presence of a thin layer of polymer, about 6 nm, uniformly applied around the particles. However, the thickness of coating layer can be controlled as a function of time and operating conditions of the process. The morphology study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as TEM revealed that although the nanoparticles seem to be coated individually, some agglomerates, encapsulated by a polymer film, could be observed. The grafting of the catalyst to the original surface of particles was further confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). |
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Keywords: | encapsulation polymerization compounding Ziegler-Natta catalyst zirconia nanoparticles |
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