ABSTRACT
Polymer nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes, graphenes, and layered silicates have been shown with significant improvement in various material properties including mechanical, thermal, electrical, and gas barrier properties. Polymer nanocomposites can generally be accessed through two routes: direct polymer/nano filler combination and in situ monomer polymerization on the surfaces of the nano fillers. The preparation of polypropylene (PP)/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites by in situ polymerization technique has been generally conducted following W., A. Kaminsky’s approach, with the use of metallocene catalyst system. For in situ preparation of PP/CNTs nanocomposites, there have been few examples of using the more convenient Ziegler-Natta catalyst system to undertake the task of generation of isospecific polymerization active sites on CNTs surface. The chapter summarizes the synthesis of PP-based nanocomposites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide as nanofillers using the technically challenging yet economically favorable in situ polymerization approach. With methylaluminoxane heterogenized by CNTs, polymerization active sites are formed on the surface of CNTs.
