Synthesis of polyethylene‐octene elastomer/SiO2‐TiO2 nanocomposites via in situ polymerization: Properties and characterization of the hybrid

In this study, a silicic acid and tetra isopropyl ortho titanate ceramic precursor and a metallocene polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE) or acrylic acid grafted metallocene polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE‐g‐AA) were used in the preparation of hybrids (POE/SiO2TiO2 and POE‐g‐AA/SiO2TiO2) using an in situ sol‐gel process, with a view to identifying a hybrid with improved thermal and mechanical properties. Hybrids were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 29Si solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and Instron mechanical testing. Properties of the POE‐g‐AA/SiO2TiO2 hybrid were superior to those of the POE/SiO2TiO2 hybrid. This was because the carboxylic acid groups of acrylic acid acted as coordination sites for the silica‐titania phase to allow the formation of stronger chemical bonds. 29Si solid‐state NMR showed that Si atoms coordinated around SiO4 units were predominantly Q3 and Q4. The 10 wt % SiO2TiO2 hybrids gave the maximum values of tensile strength and glass transition temperature in both POE/SiO2TiO2 and POE‐g‐AA/SiO2TiO2. It is proposed that above this wt %, excess SiO2TiO2 particles caused separation between the organic and inorganic phases.