Polyaniline nanofibers forIn situMAO‐catalyzed polymerization of ethylene

ABSTRACTIn this work electro‐conductive polyaniline nanofibers (PAni‐nanofibers) were prepared via interfacial methodology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed that the synthesized PAni‐nanofibers present high aspect ratio with an average diameter of 80 nm, while they exhibit high conductivity (DC conductivity values: 4.19 ± 0.21 S cm−1). After specific treatment to remove moisture and remaining trapped HCl from PAni‐nanofibers, it was possible to prepare promising polyethylene (PE)/PAni composites byin situpolymerization of ethylene using bis(cyclopentadienyl) zirconium(IV) dichloride (Cp2ZrCl2) and methylaluminoxane (MAO) as catalytic system. More precisely, various contents of PAni‐nanofibers (from 0.2 to 7 wt %) were successfully incorporated in thein situproduced PE/PAni nanocomposites. PAni‐nanofibers were found to affect significantly the crystallization of the polyolefinic matrix while preserving its thermal stability. Preliminary measurements of electric properties showed PAni‐nanofibres are able to bring electro‐conductive properties to thein situpolymerized PE/PAni composites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2014,131, 41197.