A new type of multifunctional ammonium modifier with carbonyl group and vinyl group was synthesized to prepare multifunctional montmorillonites (F-MMTs), which were used as multifunctional catalyst supports for in situ ethylene polymerization. High loading of metallocene catalyst in the galleries of F-MMT had been achieved due to the presence of carbonyl group in the multifunctional modifier. XRD profiles and TEM images showed that polyethylene/montmorillonite (PE/F-MMT) nanocomposites with exfoliated structure could be synthesized using the intercalated catalyst described above, even when the content of MMT was very high (more than 15.1 wt%). The as-produced PE/F-MMTs nanocomposites were composed of flower-like particles with a diameter of about 5 pm. A thermal stable monoclinic phase was observed in PE/F-MMT nanocomposites. Comparatively, the resultant PE/F-MMT nanocomposites showed low gas permeability. Interfacial interaction between PE matrix and F-MMT was enhanced due to the chemical linking between the two components via copolymerization of ethylene with vinyl group of F-MMT. Thus the resultant PE/F-MMT nanocomposites showed good structural stability. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.