Graphene/carbon nanotubes-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts for in situ synthesis of mechanically strong, thermally and electrically conductive trans-polyisoprene nanocomposite

Abstract

Facile ball milling process is introduced here to prepare an efficient rGO/CNT/MgCl₂ supported Ti-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst, for in situ polymerization of isoprene and simultaneous production of rGO/CNT based trans-polyisoprene (TPI) hybrid nanocomposite (having 98% of trans-1,4 structure). Effect of rGO/CNT on the morphological and crystalline properties of the catalyst, along with its efficacy towards the polymerization has been thoroughly investigated by SEM, XRD, FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, etc. Surprisingly, β-crystallinity of TPI nanocomposite increases with increasing rGO/CNT content. Because of increasing crystallinity and presence of homogeneously dispersed rGO/CNT filler, TPI nanocomposite (containing only 2 wt% rGO/CNT) shows improved mechanical property (e.g., increase of 110% modulus at 300% strain), 65% increased thermal conductivity and 10⁹ time increased electrical conductivity.

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