Preparation of Isotactic Polypropylene/Exfoliated MoS(2) Nanocomposites via In Situ Intercalative Polymerization

In this research, a Ziegler–Natta catalyst intercalated MoS(2) was synthesized through the intercalation of a Grignard reagent into MoS(2) galleries, followed by the anchoring of TiCl(4). During propylene polymerization, the intercalated MoS(2) exfoliated in situ to form PP/exfoliated MoS(2) (EMoS(2)) nanocomposites. The isotactic index values of the resultant PP/EMoS(2) nanocomposites were as high as 99%, varying from 98.1% to 99.0%. It was found that the incorporation of the EMoS(2) significantly improved the thermal stability and mechanical properties (tensile strength, modulus, and elongation at break) of PP. After introduction of EMoS(2), the maximum increases in T(d)(5%) and T(dmax) were 36.9 and 9.7 °C, respectively, relative to neat PP. After blending with commercial PP, the resultant nanocomposites increase in tensile strength and modulus up to 11.4% and 61.2% after 0.52 wt % EMoS(2) loading. Thus, this work provides a new way to produce high-performance PP.