Melt-Processable Nanocomposites Grafting-From Platelet Surfaces by Vapor-Assisted Surface Polymerization

Abstract EN

One issue accompanying the melt-processing polymer/clay nanocomposites is the reaggregation of silicate platelets, which induces decreases in advantages of nanocomposites.

To address this issue, vapor-assisted surface polymerization (VASP) method was applied with an initiator-attached and copolymerizable surfactant moiety-bound A-C18/C6MMT to obtain the exfoliated and intercalated nanocomposites using methylmethacrylate and styrene as vinyl monomers, respectively.

The melt processing of the nanocomposites was carried out by a melt-compression molding method at 200°C.

From XRD measurements, the C18/C6MMT-based nanocomposites showed no change in d-spacing even after melt processing, indicating the maintenance of the exfoliation and intercalation states.

This maintenance must result from polymer chains grafting from the silicate layer surfaces, thus clearly confirming the anchoring effect of the copolymerizable surfactant moiety units.