"Preparation of high vinyl polybutadiene/sepiolite nanocomposite

Abstract

High vinyl polybutadiene / sepiolite nanocomposites were prepared by in-situ polymerization using sepiolite as catalyst carrier for the coordination polymerization of butadiene catalyzed by molybdenum-based catalyst. Compared with pure MoCl5, the catalytic system of MoCl5 supported by sepiolite could improve the activity of polymerization while the directivity remained unchang. Scanning electron microscope observation showed that the sepiolite in the in-situ composite had good peeling and dispersion in the polymer matrix. The test of rubber processing analyzer showed that the dispersion of silica in the matrix could be significantly improved by introducing 1% (mass fraction) sepiolite in the process of rubber mixing. In this way, high vinyl polybutadiene / sepiolite nanocomposites with higher polymerization activity and better processability could be prepared.

Keywords

• high vinyl polybutadiene
• sepiolite
• molybdenum-based catalyst
• nanocomposite
• polymerization activity
• processability