Synthesis and characterization of novel nanocomposite materials based on poly(styrene-co-butyl methacrylate) copolymers and organomodified clay

In this research, synthesis of nanocomposites based on poly(styrene-co-butyl methacrylate) copolymer matrix was investigated with different types and amounts of organomodified MMT clays under the trade names Cloisite 15A and 10A. The in situ polymerization technique was selected with dispersion of the MMT nanoparticles into the corresponding co-monomer mixture and subsequent bulk radical polymerization. Reaction kinetics was measured gravimetrically and the structural characteristics of the nanocomposites formed were verified with XRD and FTIR analysis. Their glass transition temperature was measured with DSC, while their molecular weight distribution and average molecular weights with GPC. Thermal degradation characteristics of the nano-hybrids formed were measured with TGA. The copolymer composition was verified with 1H NMR spectroscopy. It was found that, since diffusion-controlled phenomena did not affected much the polymerization kinetics, also the presence of the nano-filler did not influence much the variation of conversion with time. In addition, the average molecular weights and the glass transition temperature of the polymer in the nanocomposites was not changed significantly compared to the neat polymer. However, the thermal stability of the nanocomposites formed was significantly improved with the presence of the nano-filler.