Esta tese apresenta a obtenção de sílica xerogel a partir de carvão de cascas de arroz e a modificação da sua superfície com um ligante orgânico tipo base de Schiff. O objetivo da utilização deste resíduo agroindustrial é a obtenção de um adsorvente capaz de atuar no tratamento de águas contaminadas contendo íons cádmio II, em uma concepção de valorização de resíduos. A sílica contida na biomassa foi obtida na forma de silicato de sódio através de extração química com solução de hidróxido de sódio, seguida de hidrólise e condensação do monômero através do processo solgel. A modificação da superfície da sílica com o ligante salen foi realizada utilizando o 1,2-dicloroetano como espaçador bifuncional. A sílica xerogel modificada foi avaliada através de análises de isotermas de adsorção e dessorção de nitrogênio (BET/BJH), difração de raios-X (DRX), análise química elementar (CHN), espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e termogravimetria (TG/DTG). A análise elementar indicou que 0,341 mmol/g de 1,2-dicloroetano e 0,095 mmol/g de salen foi ancorado na superfície da sílica, que apresentou estabilidade térmica até 209°C e área de superfície específica de 106,4 m²/g. Foi realizado um estudo sobre a capacidade de adsorção de íons cádmio (II) pela sílica modificada e não modificada. Os resultados indicam a superior capacidade de adsorção de cádmio pela sílica modificada, em soluções com baixa concentração do íon. / This thesis presents the obtainment of silica xerogel by rice husk charcoal and its surface modification using an organic ligand type Schiff-base. The purpose of this agro-industrial residue utilization is the production of an adsorbent capable to remove heavy metals present in contaminated waters. The silica contained in the biomass was obtained by alkaline extraction in sodium silicate with hydrolysis through sol-gel process, and modified with salen, using 1,2-dichloroethane as bi-functional spacer. The modified xerogel silica was evaluated through analysis of nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms (BET/BJH), X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical elementary analysis (CHN), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG). The elementary analysis pointed that 0,341mmol/g of the 1,2-dichloroethane and 0,095mmol/g of the salen was anchored to the silica surface, that presented thermal stability until 209°C and specific surface area of 106,4 m²/g. An evaluation about the ion cadmium II adsorption capacity of the silica modified and unmodified was performed. The results pointed to the superior cadmium adsorption capacity for the modified silica if low ion concentration solutions.

Esta tese apresenta a obtenção de sílica xerogel a partir de carvão de cascas de arroz e a modificação da sua superfície com um ligante orgânico tipo base de Schiff. O objetivo da utilização deste resíduo agroindustrial é a obtenção de um adsorvente capaz de atuar no tratamento de águas contaminadas contendo íons cádmio II, em uma concepção de valorização de resíduos. A sílica contida na biomassa foi obtida na forma de silicato de sódio através de extração química com solução de hidróxido de sódio, seguida de hidrólise e condensação do monômero através do processo solgel. A modificação da superfície da sílica com o ligante salen foi realizada utilizando o 1,2-dicloroetano como espaçador bifuncional. A sílica xerogel modificada foi avaliada através de análises de isotermas de adsorção e dessorção de nitrogênio (BET/BJH), difração de raios-X (DRX), análise química elementar (CHN), espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e termogravimetria (TG/DTG). A análise elementar indicou que 0,341 mmol/g de 1,2-dicloroetano e 0,095 mmol/g de salen foi ancorado na superfície da sílica, que apresentou estabilidade térmica até 209°C e área de superfície específica de 106,4 m²/g. Foi realizado um estudo sobre a capacidade de adsorção de íons cádmio (II) pela sílica modificada e não modificada. Os resultados indicam a superior capacidade de adsorção de cádmio pela sílica modificada, em soluções com baixa concentração do íon. / This thesis presents the obtainment of silica xerogel by rice husk charcoal and its surface modification using an organic ligand type Schiff-base. The purpose of this agro-industrial residue utilization is the production of an adsorbent capable to remove heavy metals present in contaminated waters. The silica contained in the biomass was obtained by alkaline extraction in sodium silicate with hydrolysis through sol-gel process, and modified with salen, using 1,2-dichloroethane as bi-functional spacer. The modified xerogel silica was evaluated through analysis of nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms (BET/BJH), X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical elementary analysis (CHN), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG). The elementary analysis pointed that 0,341mmol/g of the 1,2-dichloroethane and 0,095mmol/g of the salen was anchored to the silica surface, that presented thermal stability until 209°C and specific surface area of 106,4 m²/g. An evaluation about the ion cadmium II adsorption capacity of the silica modified and unmodified was performed. The results pointed to the superior cadmium adsorption capacity for the modified silica if low ion concentration solutions.

No description available.

In this study, the effects of organoclay loading, compatibilizer loading and polyethylene type on the morphology, rheology, thermal properties and mechanical properties of polyethylene/compatibilizer/organoclay nanocomposites were investigated. As compatibilizer, terpolymer of ethylene-methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (Lotader&reg / AX8900), as organoclay Cloisite&reg / 15A were used. All samples were prepared by a co-rotating twin screw extruder, followed by injection molding. Considering ternary nanocomposites, highest impact strength results were obtained with 10% compatibilizer plus 2% organoclay / highest yield stress, elastic modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus were obtained with 5% compatibilizer plus 4-6% organoclay. DSC data indicated that addition of organoclay and compatibilizer did not change the melting point remarkably / on the other hand it affected the crystallinity. The organoclay used had no nucleation effect on polyethylene, and the compatibilizer decreased the crystallinity of the matrix. X-ray diffraction showed that in all ternary nanocomposites and in binary nanocomposite of high density polyethylene with organoclay, layer separation associated with intercalation of the clay structure occurred,. The highest increase of interlayer gallery spacing was obtained with 10% compatibilizer plus 2% organoclay, which were 25%, 28% and 27% for HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE matrices respectively.

The present study was aimed at exploring the purification and modification of montmorillonite rich Turkish bentonites by organic salts and their subsequent effects on the morphology (X-diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy), melt flow index, mechanical (Tensile, Impact) and especially thermal stability (thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry) properties of polymer/organoclay nanocomposites with and without an elastomeric compatibilizer. The bentonite clay mined from Resadiye (Tokat/Turkey) was purified by sedimentation, resulting in higher cation exchange capacity and thermal stability in comparison to unpurified clay, and then used in the synthesis of six thermally stable organoclays by replacing the interlayer inorganic sodium cations with two (alkyl, aryl) phosphonium and four di-(alkyl, aryl) imidazolium surfactant cations in an attempt to overcome the problem of early decomposition of alkyl ammonium organoclays usually used in polymer nanocomposites. An optimum amount of these organoclays (wt %2) was then used in the production of Polyamide 66 and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) based nanocomposites by melt blending with the help of an optimum amount of elastomeric compatibilizer (wt %5) which also acted as impact modifier. Phosphonium organoclays were used in the production of nanocomposites for both polymers, whereas imidazolium organoclays were used with PET only. The importance of clay purification was revealed in the removal of non-clay minerals available in the raw bentonite clay as confirmed by XRF and XRD, the significant increase in cation exchange capacity and the improved thermal stability of the purified clays as proven by TGA. The interlayer spacing of the phosphonium organoclays ranged from 1.78 to 2.52 nm indicating arrangement between pseudo-trilayers and paraffin-type chains, while the interlayer spacing of imidazolium organoclays ranged between 1.35 nm and 1.45 nm indicating a monolayer arrangement. The effects of chemical structure (chain type), counter ion and alkyl chain length on the thermal stability of the imidazolium salts were investigated. TGA analysis showed that the thermal stability of (alkyl, aryl) phosphonium and di-(alkyl, aryl) imidazolium organoclays proved to be superior to conventionally used quaternary alkyl ammonium organoclays. Not only the thermal stability of the organoclays prevented the nanocomposite from early decomposition, but these organoclays also improved the onset decomposition temperatures of PA66 and PET nanocomposites compared to the pure polymer owing to the dominant barrier effect of the silicate layers as a result of the formation of carbonaceous-silicate char. The reinforcement of PA66 with surface modified phosphonium organoclays and PET with surface modified phosphonium and imidazolium organoclays enhanced the mechanical and thermal properties of the binary and ternary nanocomposites. The mechanical properties were in good agreement with DSC analysis for all the PA66 and PET compositions. The presence of elastomer and organoclays promoted the nucleation process in PA66 blend, binary and ternary nanocomposites. However, the presence of elastomer and organoclay retarded the nucleation in most of the PET composites.

Orientadores: Adriana Vitorino Rossi, Regina Buffon / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T19:48:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Manzoor_Suryyia_D.pdf: 4523839 bytes, checksum: 9aa2a7bc8376699193b0d5e83f0ec0f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Este trabalho envolveu um estudo elaborado da técnica de impressão molecular para síntese, caracterização e avaliação de materiais impressos molecularmente (MIMs) para fluconazol (FLU), cafeína (CAF) e antocianinas (ACYs). O polímero de impressão molecular para FLU (FLUMIP) foi sintetizado utilizando-se ácido metacrílico (monômero funcional), etilenoglicoldimetacrilato (EGDMA) (agente reticulador) e acetonitrila em polimerização térmica. O FLUMIP foi caracterizado e aplicado como sorvente em cartuchos de extração em fase sólida (SPE). Sua capacidade de interação seletiva com o analito foi avaliada, obtendo-se alta afinidade para FLU, em comparação com análogos estruturais, com limite de detecção menor que 1,63X10 mmol/L com cromatografia de ultra alta eficiência acoplada com espectrometria de massas. Este MIP foi usado em cartuchos de SPE para extrair o analito de medicamento em cápsula, com recuperação de 91±10 % (n=9). Outro MIM obtido foi uma sílica organicamente modificada (ORMOSIL) para extração de CAF, a partir da reação de metacrilato de 3- (trimetoxisilil) propila e acetato de vinila, seguindo-se condensação e hidrólise com tetraetilortosilicato usando CAF como molécula modelo. Este ORMOLSIL foi caracterizado e testado quanto à sua eficácia de extrair CAF de amostras de café, com recuperação de 88±5 % (n=9); ele atuou como grupo seletivo com alta porcentagem de recuperação para teofilina (77 %) e teobromina (82 %). Limites de detecção e quantificação 5,14x10 e 1,71x10 mmol/L respectivamente foram obtidos com cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. Também foi sintetizado um MIP usando rutina molécula modelo (RUTMIP), acrilamida (monômero funcional), EGDMA (agente reticulador) e tetraidrofurano por polimerização em bulk. Embora tenha sido alcançada impressão bem sucedida de rutina, confirmada pela comparação de afinidade de RUTMIP em aplicação de SPE (12 vezes maior que afinidade do polímero não impresso), não se alcançou a seletividade esperada para ACYs utilizando o RUTMIP / Abstract: This work involves an elaborative study of molecularly imprinting technique. Keeping in view its robustness and selectivity, this technique was applied for the synthesis of molecularly imprinted materials for the extraction of fluconazole (FLU), caffeine (CAF) and anthocyanins (ACYs). Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for FLU (FLUMIP) was synthesized using methacrylic acid (functional monomer), ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (crosslinker) and acetonitrile through thermal polymerization. The FLUMIP was characterized and applied as sorbent in solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. It was then evaluated for its ability to selectively interact with the analyte and presented an apparent affinity for FLU, which was confirmed by comparing it with structural analogues. The application of ultra high performance liquid chromatography with spectrometer mass detection, allowed a limit of detection 1.63x10 mmol/L. Furthermore, the SPE procedure was applied to extract FLU from medicine samples with recovery of 91±10 % (n=9). An organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) for CAF was also synthesized by reacting vinyl acetate and 3- (trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate, followed by the condensation and hydrolysis with tetraethyl orthosilicate, using CAF as template molecule. The ORMOSIL was characterized and tested for its efficiency to extract the analyte from coffee samples and the percentage recovery of 88±5 % (n=9) was obtained. The cross reactivity studies for theophylline and theobromine showed high recovery (77 % and 82% respectively). The limit of detection and quantification, 5.14x10 and 1.71x10 mmol/L respectively, were achieved using high performance liquid chromatography. Also, a MIP for ACYs (RUTMIP) was synthesized using rutin (template molecule), EGDMA (cross linker) and tetrahydrofuran by the bulk polymerization method. A successful imprinting of rutin was attained. This can be confirmed by the high affinity of rutin for MIP (12 times greater than non imprinted polymer) during SPE procedure; however, the RUTMIP was not efficient enough to selectively extract ACYs from vegetal extracts / Doutorado / Doutora em Ciências

<p>U ovom radu, sintetisani su poli(uretan-izocijanuratni) elastomeri sa kovalentnim<br />čvorovima, katalitičkom ciklotrimerizacijom teleheličnih diizocijanata kao prekursora mreže<br />na osnovu 2,4-toluen-diizocijanata, &alpha;,&omega;-dihidroksipoli(oksipropilen)diola i monoola<br />dietilenglikolmonometiletra. Dobijeni su i termoplastični segmentirani poliuretani, sa<br />čvorovima fizičkog umreženja, jednostepenim postupkom i metodom prepolimerizacije,<br />reakcijom dve vrste alifatskog polikarbonatnog diola, koji se razlikuju u strukturi lanca,<br />heksametilen-diizocijanata i produživača lanca (1,4-butandiola). Sintetisana je i serija<br />poliuretanskih hibridnih materijala, dodatkom 1% <em>m/m</em> nanočestica organski modifikovanih<br />glina (montmorilonita i bentonita). Prioritet rada je bio da se utvrdi uticaj udela elastično<br />aktivnih i visećih lanaca na dinamičko-mehanička svojstva, toplotnu stabilnost i svojstva<br />prigu&scaron;enja poliuretanskih mreža sa izocijanurat (heksahidro-1,3,5-triazin-2,4,6-trion)<br />prstenovima, kao čvorovima. Takođe, cilj istraživanja je bio da se ispita uticaj odnosa<br />reaktivnih grupa diizocijanata, polikarbonatne komponente i produživača lanca, kao i dodatka nanočestica na svojstva povr&scaron;ine, morfologiju, dinamičko-mehanička i toplotna svojstva segmentiranih neojačanih i ojačanih elastomera. Toplotna degradacija poli(uretanizocijanuratnih) mreža i segmentiranih termoplastičnih poliuretana praćena je neizotermskim ispitivanjima, koristeći istovremenu termogravimetrijsku i masenu analizu (TG-MS), kao i istovremenu termogravimetriju i diferencijalno skenirajuću kalorimetriju (TG-DSC). Viskoelastična svojstva i svojstva prigu&scaron;enja dobijenih poliuretanskih elastomera su ispitivana pomoću dinamičko-mehaničke analize (DMA). Toplotno pona&scaron;anje segmentiranih poliuretana i nanokompozita, dobijenih jednostepenim postupkom sinteze, je proučavano modulovanom diferencijalno skenirajućom kalorimetrijom (MDSC). Temperatura prelaska u staklasto stanje i termoplastična svojstva neojačanih i ojačanih poliuretanskih materijala, dobijenih postupkom prepolimerizacije, određeni su primenom diferencijalno skenirajuće kalorimetrije (DSC). Hemijska struktura i formiranje vodoničnih veza dobijenih elastomera proučavane su koristeći Furijeovu transmisionu infracrvenu spektroskopiju (FTIR). Uticaj udela tvrdih segmenata na morfologiju i svojstva povr&scaron;ine segmentiranih poliuretana, ispitivan je pomoću mikroskopije atomskih sila (AFM). Stepen kristalnosti uzoraka i dispergovanje nanočestica u dobijenim hibridnim materijalima su odre&ntilde;eni primenom metode rasipanja X-zraka pod &scaron;irokim uglom (WAXS).</p> / <p> In this work, poly(urethane-isocyanurate) elastomers, with covalent junction points,<br /> were synthesized by catalytic cyclotrimerization of telechelic diisocyanates as network<br /> presursors based on 2.4-tolylenediisocyanate, a,w,dihydroxypoly(oxypropylene) and monool<br /> component 2-(2-metoxyetoxy)ethanol. Thermoplastic polyurethanes, with physical<br /> crosslinking, were obtained by one-step technique and pre-polimerization method, using two<br /> aliphatic polycarbonate diols (differening in chain constitution), hexamethylene-diisocyanate<br /> and chain extender (1,4-butane diol) as reactive components. One serie of polyurethane<br /> hybrid materials was prepared by addition of 1 wt. % of organically modified clay<br /> nanoparticles (bentonite and montmorillonite). The goal of this work was to investigate the<br /> influence of elastically active and dangling chains content on thermal stability, dynamic<br /> mechanical and damping properties of polyurethane networks with heat-resistant<br /> isocyanurate-(hexahydro-1,3,5-triazin-2,4,6-trion) rings, as crosslinks. The aim was also to<br /> determine the influence of diisocyanate, macrodiol and chain extender reactive groups&rsquo; ratio<br /> and nanoparticles addition on surface properties, morphology, dynamic mechanical and<br /> thermal properties of obtained segmented unfilled and filled elastomers. Thermal degradation<br /> of poly(urethane-isocyanurate) networks and segmented thermoplastic polycarbonate-based<br /> polyurethanes was investigated by nonisothermal analysis, using thermogravimetry coupled<br /> with mass spectroscopy analysis (TG-MS) and thermogravimetry coupled with differential<br /> scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). Viscoelastic and damping properties of obtained<br /> polyurethane elastomers were estimated by dynamic mechanical measurements (DMA).<br /> Modulated differential calorimetry (MDSC) was used to investigate thermal behavior of<br /> segmented polyurethanes and nanocomposites, synthesized using one-step technique. The<br /> glass transition temperature and thermoplastic properties of unfilled and filled polyurethane<br /> materials, prepared by pre-polimerization procedure were assessed by differential scanning<br /> calorimetry (DSC). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate<br /> the hydrogen bond formation and chemical structure of prepared segmented elastomers. The<br /> investigation of the influence of hard segment content on morphology and surface topography<br /> of prepared segmented elastomers sheets was done by atomic force microscope (AFM). In<br /> order to determine the degree of cristallinity and to evaluate the dispersion of<br /> montmorillonite and bentonite in the polyurethane matrices, the prepared hybrid materials<br /> were characterized by wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS).</p>

No description available.

In-situ polymerization is one of the most efficient methods for production of polymer clay nanocomposites. In-situ polymerization of olefins using coordination catalysts is a type of heterogeneous polymerization. In order to achieve acceptable clay nanolayer dispersion in the polyolefin matrix, the clay layer exfoliation and particle break up during the polymerization are essential requirements. A literature review on polyolefin/clay nanocomposite is given in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, we present a new mathematical model, which is as an extension of the multigrain model (MGM), to describe the intercalative polymerization and expansion of clay interlayer spaces during polymerization using clay-supported metallocenes. The results from the model show that, under the studied conditions, mass transfer is not a strong factor controlling clay exfoliation and particle break up. If the polymerization active sites are supported uniformly on all clay surfaces, effective exfoliation will be achieved after a relative short polymerization time. In practice, obtaining good dispersion of clay nanolayers with uniform properties requires that the active sites be exclusively located on the clay nanolayer surfaces, and not extracted by the solvent to form a homogeneous solution. Factors favouring active site extraction would result in nanocomposites with poor properties. In addition, high polymerization activities, stable polymerization runs, and ease of supporting are other criteria for a successful in-situ polymerization. For this purpose we established a catalyst supporting method by which most of these requirements were met. In this method, the water content on the clay surface, which is considered as poison for the metallocene catalyst, was used to produce MAO upon reaction with trimethylaluminum (TMA). Using this method, polymerization was highly active in absence of MAO cocatalyst, knowing that MAO cocatalyst promotes active site extraction from the clay surface and results in poor powder morphology. Chapter 4 describes the development of this supporting methodology. Chapter 4 also investigates the effect of the organic modification type existing on the clay surface on the success of catalyst supporting and in-situ polymerization. We found that using the proposed supporting procedure, only tertiary ammonium type modification enhanced the in-situ polymerization, whereas the quaternary ammonium worsened the catalyst supporting efficiency and led to catalyst with poor or no polymerization activity. It is suggested that, in addition to enhancing clay surface-organic solvent compatibility (which facilitates catalyst supporting), the tertiary ammonium cation reacts with the in-situ produced MAO and increases the stability of the cocatalyst bonded to the clay surface. The effect of different polymerization conditions on the polymerization behavior and nanocomposite structural properties, such as catalyst loading during supporting, polymerization temperature and triisobutylaluminum (TIBA) concentration, were studied in Chapter 5. It was found that TIBA acts merely as scavenger. High polymerization activities were obtained with low Al/Zr ratios (Al from TIBA) and increased Al concentration decreased the polymerization activity and also the quality of powder morphology. Catalyst loading in the supporting step showed to have an important role in determining the final properties. The clay particles with higher catalyst loading resulted in better exfoliation and powder morphologies The effect of solvent type during catalyst supporting and polymerization was studied in Chapter 6. It was shown that catalyst supporting in n-hexane resulted in polymerizations with higher activities and polymers with higher molecular weight were produced. Polymerization with catalyst supported in hexane showed different ethylene uptake profiles, suggesting different mechanism of exfoliation. It is suggested that using this catalyst, the clay is mostly exfoliated before polymerization started. Similar to the original clay, the catalyst supporting efficiency on the organically modified clay was close to 100 percent. However, comparing the polymerization activities of these catalysts to those that were supported directly in the reactor just before the polymerization (in-reactor, or in-situ, supported catalysts) shows that a considerable fraction of the active sites are deactivated during the prolonged contact between catalyst and clay support surface. In Chapter 5, it was shown that the in-reactor supported catalyst had considerably higher polymerization activities, up to 40 percent of that of the homogeneous catalyst. Nanocomposites made with in-reactor supported catalysts had powder morphology and nanaolayer dispersion comparable to those made with clay-supported catalysts.

In-situ polymerization is one of the most efficient methods for production of polymer clay nanocomposites. In-situ polymerization of olefins using coordination catalysts is a type of heterogeneous polymerization. In order to achieve acceptable clay nanolayer dispersion in the polyolefin matrix, the clay layer exfoliation and particle break up during the polymerization are essential requirements. A literature review on polyolefin/clay nanocomposite is given in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, we present a new mathematical model, which is as an extension of the multigrain model (MGM), to describe the intercalative polymerization and expansion of clay interlayer spaces during polymerization using clay-supported metallocenes. The results from the model show that, under the studied conditions, mass transfer is not a strong factor controlling clay exfoliation and particle break up. If the polymerization active sites are supported uniformly on all clay surfaces, effective exfoliation will be achieved after a relative short polymerization time. In practice, obtaining good dispersion of clay nanolayers with uniform properties requires that the active sites be exclusively located on the clay nanolayer surfaces, and not extracted by the solvent to form a homogeneous solution. Factors favouring active site extraction would result in nanocomposites with poor properties. In addition, high polymerization activities, stable polymerization runs, and ease of supporting are other criteria for a successful in-situ polymerization. For this purpose we established a catalyst supporting method by which most of these requirements were met. In this method, the water content on the clay surface, which is considered as poison for the metallocene catalyst, was used to produce MAO upon reaction with trimethylaluminum (TMA). Using this method, polymerization was highly active in absence of MAO cocatalyst, knowing that MAO cocatalyst promotes active site extraction from the clay surface and results in poor powder morphology. Chapter 4 describes the development of this supporting methodology. Chapter 4 also investigates the effect of the organic modification type existing on the clay surface on the success of catalyst supporting and in-situ polymerization. We found that using the proposed supporting procedure, only tertiary ammonium type modification enhanced the in-situ polymerization, whereas the quaternary ammonium worsened the catalyst supporting efficiency and led to catalyst with poor or no polymerization activity. It is suggested that, in addition to enhancing clay surface-organic solvent compatibility (which facilitates catalyst supporting), the tertiary ammonium cation reacts with the in-situ produced MAO and increases the stability of the cocatalyst bonded to the clay surface. The effect of different polymerization conditions on the polymerization behavior and nanocomposite structural properties, such as catalyst loading during supporting, polymerization temperature and triisobutylaluminum (TIBA) concentration, were studied in Chapter 5. It was found that TIBA acts merely as scavenger. High polymerization activities were obtained with low Al/Zr ratios (Al from TIBA) and increased Al concentration decreased the polymerization activity and also the quality of powder morphology. Catalyst loading in the supporting step showed to have an important role in determining the final properties. The clay particles with higher catalyst loading resulted in better exfoliation and powder morphologies The effect of solvent type during catalyst supporting and polymerization was studied in Chapter 6. It was shown that catalyst supporting in n-hexane resulted in polymerizations with higher activities and polymers with higher molecular weight were produced. Polymerization with catalyst supported in hexane showed different ethylene uptake profiles, suggesting different mechanism of exfoliation. It is suggested that using this catalyst, the clay is mostly exfoliated before polymerization started. Similar to the original clay, the catalyst supporting efficiency on the organically modified clay was close to 100 percent. However, comparing the polymerization activities of these catalysts to those that were supported directly in the reactor just before the polymerization (in-reactor, or in-situ, supported catalysts) shows that a considerable fraction of the active sites are deactivated during the prolonged contact between catalyst and clay support surface. In Chapter 5, it was shown that the in-reactor supported catalyst had considerably higher polymerization activities, up to 40 percent of that of the homogeneous catalyst. Nanocomposites made with in-reactor supported catalysts had powder morphology and nanaolayer dispersion comparable to those made with clay-supported catalysts.