He-Xin Zhang - Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, KoreaKey Lab. of Synthetic Rubber, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy ofScience, China
Seung-Ri Lee - Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Korea
Dong-Ho Lee - Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Korea
Xue-Quan Zhang - Key Lab. of Synthetic Rubber, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy ofScience, China

Despite the great potential of graphene as a nanofller, achieving homogeneous dispersion remains the key challenge for effectively reinforcing polyolefn (such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)) nanocomposites.Therefore, in this research, we report a facile combined in situ polymerization and masterbatch method for fabricatingPP/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites. In the polymerization stage, the synthesized catalyst exhibiteda very high activity toward propylene polymerization, while the resultant PP/rGO with a very high isotactic index(I.I. = 99.3), broad molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 14.9), and thermal stability was produced. After meltblending with commercial PP, a signifcantly increased modulus along with no observable change in tensile strengthand elongation-at-break were achieved via the addition of a very small amount of rGO; these properties resulted fromthe suitable dispersion and good interface adhesion of the graphene sheet and PP matrix. Thus, this work provides amethod for production of high performance PP. Polyolefns J (2017) 4: 69-77

Polypropylene; nanocomposites; in situ polymerization; graphene