Synthesis and properties of polystyrene–montmorillonite nanocomposites by suspension polymerization

Abstract

Organophilic montmorillonite was prepared using ion-exchange method between sodium ions in clay layers and stearyltrimethyl ammonium chloride in the various solvents, including deionized water, ethanol, acetone, and toluene. The montmorillonite has the largest d 001 spacing, as determined by X-ray diffraction in toluene, than the other solvents considered. Ethanol can completely wash out the overexchanged stearyltrimethyl ammonium chloride among layers of montmorillonite. However, deionized water is the preferred ion-exchange solvent. The thermal stability of organophilic montmorillonite was investigated by high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Polysty-rene-montmorillonite nanocomposites were obtained by suspension free radical polymerization of styrene in the dispersed organophilic montmorillonite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that montmorillonite had been exfoliated. 5.0 wt % of clay in the synthesized nanocomposite was found to be the optimum content that improved both thermal and mechanical properties over those of pure polystyrene under the experimental conditions applied.

Preparation of polystyrene/triphenyl phosphate composites by suspension polymerization and melt extrusion method — A comparative study

“…They concluded that the modification increased the dispersion of CB in the PS matrix by increasing the compatibility between the modified CB and styrene [23,24] . A similar modification effect was obtained in a PS/MMT nanocomposite [25,26] .…”

Use of clay-anchored reactive modifier for the synthesis of poly (styrene-co-butyl acrylate)/clay nanocomposite via in situ AGET ATRP

“…Changes in the interlayer distance before and after ion-exchange reaction were monitored using XRD and also the distance between clay layers were calculated using the Bragg's law (Eq. 2) [29]. Figure 2 shows X-ray diffraction patterns for pristine and modified clay layers with different DDTMAB and VBTMAC ratios.…”

Synthesis and Characterization of Polystyrene, Poly(butyl acrylate)-Layered Silicates Nanocomposites by Polymerization in Anionic Microemulsions

“…This behavior corresponds to exfoliated LS in PSt matrixes. [1][2][3] After our knowledge this synthesis method was not mentioned until now, but there are reports involving emulsion and suspension polymerization, [9,20] miniemulsion [18] or mass polymerization. [22] Monomer insertion in the interlayer spaces of MMT creates the premises for LS exfoliation.…”

“…[9,20] These systems are assuming latex nanoparticles which are containing dispersed fillers (LS) also to nanoscale that is a particulate class of materials for a real scientific and applicative interest. [1][2][3]7] 2.…”