| Abstract: | The polyethylene–clay nanocomposites were prepared by the in situ graft copolymerization of styrene containing twin‐benzyldimethyldioctadecylammonium bromine modified montmorillonite (TBDO‐MMT) in polyethylene with dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as an initiator in molten state. XRD and TEM analysis indicated that intercalated polyethylene/MMT nanocomposites are obtained. The mechanics performance, crystal behavior, thermal properties, and the effect of MMT contents on PE/MMT nanocomposite were also studied. As comparison, polyethylene/montmorillonite composites prepared by a simply melt compounding without styrene were studied as well. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4921–4927, 2006 |
