Mechanically-enhanced polyolefin composite
A mechanically-enhanced polyolefin composite is provided. The mechanically-enhanced polyolefin composite comprises a matrix comprising a polyolefin, a polymer having a moiety grafted thereon, and a polymerisable linker, wherein the moiety grafted on the polymer is covalently bonded to the polymerisable linker via a chemical bond, and a filler disposed within the matrix. There is also provided a method of providing a polyolefin composite, comprising a matrix comprising a polyolefin, a polymer having a moiety grafted thereon, and a polymerisable linker, wherein the moiety grafted on the polymer is covalently bonded to the polymerisable linker via a chemical bond, and a filler disposed within the matrix, the method comprising (i) mixing a polyolefin, a polymer having a moiety grafted thereon, a polymerisable linker and a filler; (ii) melting the mixture of step (i); and (iii) kneading the mixture of step (ii).
1 . A polyolefin composite comprising
a matrix comprising a polyolefin, a further polyolefin having a moiety grafted thereon, and a polymerisable epoxide linker, wherein the polymerisable epoxide linker is derived from a polymerisable epoxide resin obtained by a reaction between an amine and an epoxide-containing precursor, wherein the amine is selected from the group consisting of aminophenol, aminocresol, xylenediamine, and a combination thereof, and wherein the moiety grafted on the further polyolefin is covalently bonded to the polymerisable epoxide linker via a chemical bond, and
a filler disposed within the matrix, wherein the filler is covalently bonded to the polymerisable epoxide linker, and wherein a material of the filler is glass and is surface-treated with an organosilane, thereby enabling the covalent bond between the filler and the polymerisable epoxide linker.
2 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein either one of or both the polyolefin and the further polyolefin are selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a random copolymer or a block copolymer of ethylene, propylene, 1-pentene, 1-butene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, styrene, ethylidene norbornene, 1,4-hexadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,9-decadiene, dicyclopentadiene and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer.
3 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene, polypropylene, or polypropylene in combination with an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer.
4 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin has a melt flow rate of about 5 g/10 min to 100 g/10 min at a temperature of 230° C. and at a weight of 2.16 kg.
5 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is present in a weight percentage range of about 30 wt % to about 95 wt % based on the total weight of the polyolefin composite.
6 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the further polyolefin is polypropylene.
7 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the further polyolefin having a moiety grafted thereon is present in a weight percentage range of up to about 50 wt % based on the total weight of the polyolefin composite.
8 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the moiety grafted on the further polyolefin comprises a —COO— group which forms the chemical bond with the polymerizable epoxide linker.
9 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the further polyolefin further comprises a group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl, a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, maleate monoester, maleate diester, and a combination thereof.
10 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the polymerisable epoxide linker is present in a weight percentage range of up to about 50 wt % based on the total weight of the polyolefin composite.
11 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein the chemical bond is an ester bond.
12 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein a material of the filler further comprises clay, carbon, cellulose, or a combination thereof.
13 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , wherein a material of the filler further comprises clay and is selected from the group consisting of inorganic silicate, alumino silicate, pellet-like metal oxide and hydroxide, anionic and cationic layered metal oxide and hydroxide, montmorillonite (MMT), kaolinite, dickite, halloysite, and nacrite, nontronite, beidellite, saponite, illite, biotite, lepidolite, phlogopite, clintonite, sepiolite, zinnwaldite, phengite, mica, layered metal oxide, layered metal hydroxide, attapulgite (AT), and a combination thereof.
14 . The polyolefin composite of claim 13 , wherein the clay comprises layered and/or pellet-like metal oxide.
15 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, an ultraviolet ray absorber, and a combination thereof.
16 . The polyolefin composite of claim 1 , further comprising a styrene-based polymer.
17 . A method of providing the polyolefin composite according to claim 1 , the method comprising
(i) mixing a polyolefin, a further polyolefin having a moiety grafted thereon, a polymerisable epoxide linker and a filler;
(ii) melting the mixture of step (I); and
(iii) kneading the mixture of step (ii).
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein melting the mixture of step (i) comprises formation of an ester bond between the moiety grafted on the further polyolefin and the polymerisable epoxide linker at a temperature of about 120° C. to about 250° C.