In Situ Formation of a Novel Nanocomposite Structure Based on MCM-41 and Polyethylene

M41S materials are prepared by in situ assembly of inorganic precursors and organic template and can be viewed as nanocomposites of the siliceous phase and organic surfactant. Calcination of these precursors gives the M41S materials that have been used to prepare novel nanocomposite structures, in which the organic phase inside the nano-sized pores is isolated by the nano-sized inorganic pore walls. The nanocomposite structures can be formed by in situ polymerization of monomers inside the channels. Polymerization of ethylene takes place inside the nano-sized pores, producing the desired nanocomposite structure. The resulting polyethylene was found to be a mixture of crystalline and amorphous phases.