SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(BUTYL ACRYLATE-CO-METHYL METHACRYLATE)/CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES VIA EMULSION POLYMERIZATION

Abstract

Poly(butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized via emulsion polymerization with an emulsifier (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, SDBS), an initiator (ammonium persulate, APS), acrylic acid ester monomer and Na -montmorillonite. It was found that the addition of SDBS and water widened the gap between clay layers and facilitated monomers to penetrate into clay. Through initiator, comonomers were polymerized in the montmorillonite galleries. The structure of extracted nanocomposites was confirmed by XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their thermal property and molecule weight were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel-penetrate chromatogram (GPC).