Preparation and Properties of Polydicyclopentadiene/MMt Nanocomposites Using Supported Tungsten Catalyst

Abstract

Polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) is a kind of engineering plastic which possesses excellent mechanical performance. It can be prepared by dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) through Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). In this article, a supported catalyst of WCl₆-phenol on montmorillonite (MMt) was prepared. It is highly efficient, low-cost and more stable in air. PDCPD/MMt Nanocomposites were prepared by this catalyst with Et₂AlCl through ROMP. The polymerization was executed in Gusmer-Decker's RIMcell Lt Machine. The d spacings of the clay in nanocomposites were monitored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the extent of delamination was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD curves showed the expansion of clay layers due to the intercalation of WCl₆-phenol catalyst into the space of MMt. The TEM micrograph showed that highly delaminated nanocomposites were achieved, even at the highest (4.0 wt% MMt) clay loading. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) testing showed that thermal stabilities of nanocomposites were increased with the increase of MMt loading. The enhanced degree in the storage modulus of nanocomposites increased with the increase of MMt loading.

Keywords:

• Delamination
• Dicyclopentadiene
• Montmorillonite
• Ring-opening metathesis polymerization

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This project was financially supported by Excellent Talents Innovation Foundation (No. 074200510019) of Henan Province of China and Youth Foundation of Henan University of Science and Technology (2010QN0013).