Synthesis of polyethylene additives using catalysed chain growth
File(s)
Author(s)
Aljaber, Ahmad
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Polyethylene is a commodity polymer produced on a large scale with over 100 million tons per year, accounting for 35% of the produced plastic in the market. In order to widen the scope of application, an alternative method to incorporate various functionalities and polar groups into LDPE has been investigated. This thesis presents novel routes to synthesize end-functionalized PE additives using catalysed chain growth (CCG) on zinc reactions.
Chapter 1 is a historical overview on the evolution of polyolefins since the 1930s and an introduction into coordinative chain transfer polymerisation and the CCG reaction. Chapter 2 presents various synthesis and characterization methods for functionalised long alkanes synthesized using the CCG reaction, followed by changing functionality to iodo, azido, and amino end-group. This chapter also investigates the possibility of calculating the molecular weight of the functionalized alkanes via ATR-FTIR and DSC. PE-I has been incorporated into LDPE either through solution mixing or via melt blending. The resulted LDPE composite was characterised by FTIR, DSC, and FIB-SEM/ EDX.
Chapters 3 and 4 investigate the synthesis of antimicrobial and flame-retardant PE additives, respectively, using the CCG reactions. Various antimicrobial and flame-retardant agents were successfully synthesized as an active chain-end PE with chain lengths of 18-66 carbons. The antimicrobial additives have been incorporated into LDPE at 2 and 4 wt% loading via melt blending and the LDPE antimicrobial nanocomposites were tested for antimicrobial activity. Similarly, the Flame-retardant PE additives have been incorporated into LDPE at 5 and 10 wt% loading via melt blending and the LDPE flame-retardant nanocomposites were tested for flame retardant activity.
Chapter 5 introduces a novel method to alkylate nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) with long alkyl chains using a two-phase reaction. The functionalized NFC was blended with LDPE at 0.5 and 1.5 wt% loading to examine the impact on the LDPE nanocomposite.
Chapter 1 is a historical overview on the evolution of polyolefins since the 1930s and an introduction into coordinative chain transfer polymerisation and the CCG reaction. Chapter 2 presents various synthesis and characterization methods for functionalised long alkanes synthesized using the CCG reaction, followed by changing functionality to iodo, azido, and amino end-group. This chapter also investigates the possibility of calculating the molecular weight of the functionalized alkanes via ATR-FTIR and DSC. PE-I has been incorporated into LDPE either through solution mixing or via melt blending. The resulted LDPE composite was characterised by FTIR, DSC, and FIB-SEM/ EDX.
Chapters 3 and 4 investigate the synthesis of antimicrobial and flame-retardant PE additives, respectively, using the CCG reactions. Various antimicrobial and flame-retardant agents were successfully synthesized as an active chain-end PE with chain lengths of 18-66 carbons. The antimicrobial additives have been incorporated into LDPE at 2 and 4 wt% loading via melt blending and the LDPE antimicrobial nanocomposites were tested for antimicrobial activity. Similarly, the Flame-retardant PE additives have been incorporated into LDPE at 5 and 10 wt% loading via melt blending and the LDPE flame-retardant nanocomposites were tested for flame retardant activity.
Chapter 5 introduces a novel method to alkylate nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) with long alkyl chains using a two-phase reaction. The functionalized NFC was blended with LDPE at 0.5 and 1.5 wt% loading to examine the impact on the LDPE nanocomposite.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2022-12-06
Date Awarded
01/06/2023
License URL
Advisor
Britovsek, George
Publisher Department
Chemistry
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)