Preparation and characterization of exfoliated polystyrene/clay nanocomposites using a cationic radical initiator-MMT hybrid

The exfoliated polystyrene (PS)/clay nanocomposites were prepared via in situ polymerization using a cationic radical initiator-intercalated montmorillonite hybrid. The exfoliated structure resulted from the predominant intra-gallery polymerization over the extra-gallery polymerization owing to the anchored radical initiator inside the clay galleries. Several critical properties of the nanocomposites such as the initial thermal degradation temperature, glass transition temperature, storage modulus, Young’s modulus, and tensile strength were estimated and compared with earlier reported literature values. The improvements in such properties were either comparable or much greater than the reported literature values, mainly due to the efficient exfoliation and dispersion of the clay in the PS matrix.     

Exfoliated high-impact polystyrene/MMT nanocomposites prepared using anchored cationic radical initiator-MMT hybrid

High-impact polystyrene (HIPS)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared via in-situ polymerization of styrene in the presence of polybutadiene, using intercalated cationic radical initiator-MMT hybrid. Incomplete exfoliation of the silicate layers in the HIPS nanocomposites was observed when a bulk polymerization was employed. On the other hand, the silicate layers were efficiently exfoliated in the PS matrix during a solution polymerization, due to the low extra-gallery viscosity, which can facilitate the diffusion of styrene monomers into the clay layers. The resulting exfoliated HIPS/MMT nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, particle size analysis, gel permeation chromatography, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The nanocomposites exhibited significant improvement in thermal and mechanical properties. For example, about 50% improvement in Young’s modulus was achieved with 5 wt% of clay, compared to the unmodified polymer counterpart.     

乳液聚合法制备聚苯乙烯/Mg-Al层状双氢氧化物纳米复合材料

采用乳液聚合法制备阻燃性聚苯乙烯MgAl层状双氢氧化物(LDHs)纳米复合材料.通过对不同合成条件下复合材料的XRD谱,讨论了纳米复合材料的形成过程;经SEM图证实了LDHs是以剥离的纳米级层片分散在基体中的;TG和DSC谱图揭示了LDHs纳米层板可有效提高PS的热稳定性,并可使PS的玻璃化转化温度明显提高;当层状双氢氧化物在插层复合材料中含量为14.92%时,纳米复合材料的氧指数可达23.5%,其用量比在PS中直接添加纳米LDHs时要少约一倍.文中还分析了纳米复合材料的形成过程.     

Synthesis and characterization of exfoliated polystyrene/ZnAl layered double hydroxide nanocomposite via emulsion polymerization

Exfoliated polystyrene (PS)/ZnAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites have been synthesized via emulsion polymerization in the presence of N-lauroyl-glutamate surfactants and long-chain n-hexadecane. The samples were characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The XRD and TEM results demonstrate that the exfoliated ZnAl-LDH layers of 50-70 nm width and about 1 nm thickness were well dispersed at molecular level in the PS matrix. And the completely exfoliated PS/LDH nanocomposites can be obtained even at the 10 wt% LDH loading. When the 50% weight loss was selected as a comparison point, the decomposition temperature of exfoliated PS/LDH sample with 5 wt% LDH was ca. 28 degrees C higher than that of pure PS.     

Properties of covalently bonded layered‐silicate/polystyrene nanocomposites synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization

Covalently bonded layered silicated/polystyrene nanocomposites were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of initiator‐modified layered silicate. The resulting nanocomposites had an intercalated and partially exfoliated structure, as confirmed by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal properties of the nanocomposites improved substantially over those of neat polystyrene. In particular, a maximum increase of 35.5 °C in the degradation temperature was displayed by these nanocomposites. Additionally, the surface elastic modulus and hardness of these nanocomposites were more than double those of pure polystyrene. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 534–542, 2005     

Chlorinated polyethylene nanocomposites using PCL/clay nanohybrid masterbatches

Exfoliated nanocomposites were prepared by dispersion of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) grafted montmorillonite nanohybrids used as masterbatches in chlorinated polyethylene (CPE). The PCL-grafted clay nanohybrids with high inorganic content were synthesized by in situ intercalative polymerization of ε-caprolactone between silicate layers organo-modified by alkylammonium cations bearing two hydroxyl functions. The polymerization was initiated by tin alcoholate species derived from the exchange reaction of tin(II) bis(2-ethylhexanoate) with the hydroxyl groups borne by the ammonium cations that organomodified the clay. These highly filled PCL nanocomposites (25 wt% in inorganics) were dispersed as masterbatches in commercial chlorinated polyethylene by melt blending. CPE-based nanocomposites containing 3-5 wt% of inorganics have been prepared. The formation of exfoliated nanocomposites was assessed both by wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal and thermo-mechanical properties were studied as a function of the filler content, by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The mechanical properties were also assessed by tensile tests. The Young’s modulus of CPE is increased by a decade when a PCL-grafted clay masterbatch is exfoliated to reach 5 wt% of clay in the resulting nanocomposite. The influence of PCL-grafting on the properties of these nanocomposites was investigated by comparison with materials obtained with ungrafted-PCL.     

乳液聚合法制备剥离型PS/MMT纳米复合材料

以阳离子表面活性剂十八烷基三甲基氯化铵(OTAC)和烯丙基十八烷基二甲基氯化铵(ATAC)为插层处理剂改性蒙脱土(MMT),原位乳液聚合分别制备了PS/C18MMT和PS/AC18MMT两种纳米复合材料.XRD和TEM分析表明,MMT均被剥离成单个或几个片层无规的分散在PS基体中,TGA分析表明,MMT的加入提高了材料的耐热性能,当PS基体与有机化处理的MMT片层发生一定的化学连接后,PS/AC18MMT纳米复合材料表现出更好的耐热性能.动态力学分析表明,MMT的加入提高了PS的玻璃态储能模量,降低了材料的动态损耗;PS/AC18MMT纳米复合材料的玻璃化温度较PS有所提高,而PS/C18MMT的玻璃化温度与PS相比略有降低.     

Exfoliation of layered double hydroxide in polystyrene by in-situ atom transfer radical polymerization using initiator-modified precursor

Exfoliated nanocomposite, based on Zn, Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) and polystyrene (PS), has been achieved by in-situ atom transfer radical polymerization reaction from initiator-modified LDH. The exfoliated structure is characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electronic microscope. The results suggest that the exfoliated ZnAl(DS) LDH sheets with a thickness of less than 1 nm disperse individually in the PS matrix, and the thermal stability of the nanocomposite shows a marked improvement. When the 50 wt% weight loss is selected as a comparison point, the decomposition temperature of PS/LDH nanocomposite is about 45 °C higher than that of pure PS.     

Polymer–silicate nanocomposites produced by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization

Polymer–silicate nanocomposites were synthesized with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). An ATRP initiator, consisting of a quaternary ammonium salt moiety and a 2‐bromo‐2‐methyl propionate moiety, was intercalated into the interlayer spacings of the layered silicate. Subsequent ATRP of styrene, methyl methacrylate, or n‐butyl acrylate with Cu(I)X/N,N‐bis(2‐pyridiylmethyl) octadecylamine, Cu(I)X/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, or Cu(I)X/1,1,4,7,10,10‐hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (X = Br or Cl) catalysts with the initiator‐modified silicate afforded homopolymers with predictable molecular weights and low polydispersities, both characteristics of living radical polymerization. The polystyrene nanocomposites contained both intercalated and exfoliated silicate structures, whereas the poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites were significantly exfoliated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 916–924, 2004     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF POLYSTYRENE／LAPONITE NANOCOMPOSITES

Exfoliated polystyrene (PS)/laponite nanocomposites were prepared successfully. The characteristic doo1 diffraction peak of organo-laponite disappeared in the XRD patterns of nanocomposites, indicating that the laponite layers were exfoliated and the ordered crystal structure of laponite was destroyed because of the styrene polymerization. TEM observations showed that the exfoliated laponite primary particles were dispersed randomly in the PS matrix with lateral dimensions from 1 nm to 10 rim. SEM results showed that the PS/laponite nanocomposite particles were almost monodispersed spheres with the size of about 120 rim. Because of the interaction between PS and laponite nanolayers, the nanocomposites exhibited higher thermal stability and glass transition temperature when compared to pure PS.     

蒙脱土负载型引发剂的制备及在苯乙烯乳液聚合中的应用

通过正离子交换将引发剂AIBA负载在蒙脱土上制得负载型引发剂V50-MMT.进而采用原位乳液聚合方法引发苯乙烯聚合制备PS/MMT纳米复合材料.采用XRD、TGA、DSC、TEM和抽提等方法对负载型引发剂和纳米复合材料进行了表征.结果表明,负载过程中引发剂AIBA进入了MMT的片层之间;聚合过程中介于片层间的引发剂因发生分解一方面产生自由基引发St聚合,另一方面MMT发生了剥离分散;由此法制备的PS/MMT纳米复合材料,MMT片层无规、均匀地分散于PS基体中,片层厚度在几个纳米至十几个纳米之间,长度为几十至几百个纳米不等;大量的PS链段以化学键接枝在MMT的片层上,接枝在MMT片层上的PS的分子量及其分布与游离的PS不同.     

Poly(styrene‐b‐tetrahydrofuran)/clay nanocomposites by mechanistic transformation

Synthesis of poly(styrene‐block‐tetrahydrofuran) (PSt‐b‐PTHF) block copolymer on the surfaces of intercalated and exfoliated silicate (clay) layers by mechanistic transformation was described. First, the polystyrene/montmorillonite (PSt/MMT) nanocomposite was synthesized by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from initiator moieties immobilized within the silicate galleries of the clay particles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the existence of both intercalated and exfoliated structures in the nanocomposite. Then, the PSt‐b‐PTHF/MMT nanocomposite was prepared by mechanistic transformation from ATRP to cationic ring opening polymerization (CROP). The TGA thermogram of the PSt‐b‐PTHF/MMT nanocomposite has two decomposition stages corresponding to PTHF and PSt segments. All nanocomposites exhibit enhanced thermal stabilities compared with the virgin polymer segments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2190–2197, 2009     

Synthesis and Rheology of Intercalated Polystyrene/Na+‐Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Polystyrene (PS)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized by the emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of sodium ion‐exchanged montmorillonite (Na⁺‐MMT), demonstrating that the strongly hydrophobic PS was intercalated into the hydrophilic silicate layers. The nanocomposites were examined by means of X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis. The rheological properties of the PS/Na⁺‐MMT nanocomposites were also studied to exhibit more pronounced shear thinning behavior with increasing clay content.     

原位插层聚合制备聚丁二烯/蒙脱土纳米复合材料及其结构与性能研究

采用负离子引发原位插层聚合法制备了聚丁二烯(PB)/有机蒙脱土(OMMT)纳米复合材料(NC).对OMMT纯化方法、OMMT种类和溶剂等因素对聚合反应的影响进行了研究.不同方法纯化的OMMT消耗的BuLi量相差一倍;采用OMMT-DK1制备的NC具有较宽的分子量分布,而采用OMMT-DK1B和OMMT-DK4制备的NC则具有较窄的分子量分布;OMMT在环己烷中不溶解,在甲苯和二甲苯等溶剂中可形成均匀溶液.采用XRD、TEM和H-NMR等仪器对PB/OMMT NC的插层结构、化学结构和形态进行了分析;采用DSC、TGA和DMA等仪器对PB/OMMT NC的Tg、热学性能和动态力学性能进行了研究,结果表明,采用负离子原位插层聚合可得到剥离型PB/OMMT纳米复合材料;与OMMT插层复合明显改变了PB的微观结构组成,在OMMT含量为6.2wt%时,1,2-结构含量增加了近一倍,Tg和Tdc分别增加了10 K和16 K;E′、E″均明显提高,而tanδ下降.     

Characterization and Non-isothermal Decomposition Kinetic Analysis of PS/FeNi3 Nanocomposites

Polystyrene/iron-nickel (PS/FeNi3) nanocomposites were synthesized via an in-situ polymerization route and characterized by XRD,SEM and FTIR. FeNi3 nanoparticles were characterized by TEM and XRD. The pure FeNi3 nanoparticles (100～125 nm) were highly clustered and percolated through the PS matrix. When the content of FeNi3 nanoparticles reached 5 wt%,an interaction between FeNi3 nanoparticles and PS matrix was observed. The thermal decomposition behavior of PS/FeNi3 nanocomposites was investigated by thermal analysis. The activation energies (E) and pre-exponential factors (lnA) were calculated by using Archar method. The results show that the thermal decomposition of pure PS is a one-dimensional diffusion mechanism. A three-dimensional diffusion mechanism appears when FeNi3 nanoparticles incorporate. The E of PS/FeNi3 nanocomposites with different FeNi3 contents is 217.5,225.3,180.6 and 73.0 kJ·mol-1,and the corresponding lnA is 35.6,34.9,27.5 and 10.4 S-1,respectively.     

A novel comparative study of different layered silicate clay types on exfoliation process and final nanostructure of trifunctional epoxy nanocomposites

The effect of three different organically modified layered silicate clays (Nanomer I.30E, Cloisite 30B and Nanofil SE 3000) on the exfoliation process and on the thermal properties and nanostructure of cured trifunctional epoxy resin based nanocomposites was studied. Optical microscopy showed that the best and poorest qualities of clay distribution in the epoxy matrix were obtained with Nanofil SE 3000 and Nanomer I.30E, respectively. However, the isothermal differential scanning calorimetry scans show that, of the three systems, it is only the Nanomer clay that promotes intra-gallery reaction due to homopolymerisation, appearing as an initial rapid peak prior to the cross-linking reaction. This rapid intra-gallery reaction is not present in the curing curve for the Cloisite and Nanofil systems. This fact implies that the fully cured nanostructure of the Cloisite and Nanofil system is poorly exfoliated, which is confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering which shows a scattering peak for these systems at around 2.53°, corresponding to about 3.5 nm d-spacing.     

In situ synthesis of A3‐type star polymer/clay nanocomposites by atom transfer radical polymerization

A series of A₃‐type star poly(methylmethacrylate)/clay nanocomposites is prepared by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiated from organomodified montmorillonite containing quaternary trifunctional ATRP initiator. The first order kinetic plot shows a linear behavior, indicating the controlled character of the polymerization. The resulting nanocomposites are characterized by spectroscopic (XRD), thermal (DSC and TGA), and microscopic (TEM) analyses. The exfoliated nanocomposite has been obtained when polymerization was conducted with 1% of organic clay loading. Thermal analyses show that all nanocomposites have higher glass transition values and thermal stabilities compared to neat polymer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5257–5262     

聚萘并噁嗪/蒙脱土纳米复合材料的制备与表征

用原位插层反应法地制备了聚萘并嗪 蒙脱土纳米复合材料 .采用X ray衍射 (XRD)及透射电镜(TEM)研究复合材料中蒙脱土硅酸盐片层间距 ,发现硅酸盐片层间距由 1 2 6nm扩增至 5 88nm以上 .同时研究了该复合材料的耐热性 ,并探讨了复合材料的结晶行为     

Mechanistic examination of pre-exfoliating confinement of surface-active polystyrene nanobeads within pristine clay

Hydrophobic polymer (PS) nanoparticles preformed through an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization method were successfully incorporated into a gallery of pristine sodium montmorillonite via interfacial cation exchange. The polymer beads confined between clay nanosheets were capable of (1) preventing the silicate layers from restacking and (2) maintaining the exfoliated state of clay. The increase in the abundance of surface groups promoted adsorption of the nanobeads onto the silicate surface and eventually led to the establishment of strong polymer-clay interactions. These findings suggest that, on the basis of the obtained pre-exfoliated clay masterbatch, the presence of strong polymer-clay interactions could improve the mechanical performance of nanocomposites.     

Preparation of fluorinated methacrylate/clay nanocomposite via in‐situ polymerization: Characterization,structure, and properties

Novel fluorinated coating containing well‐dispersed silicate nanolayers is successfully produced via in‐situ free radical polymerization of 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate in the presence of vinylbenzyl‐functionalized montmorillonite with different loading. The organic modification of sodium montmorillonite is achieved through an ion exchange reaction with triphenylvinylbenzylphosphonium chloride as surfactant prepared before use by reaction with vinylbenyl chloride and phosphine. The following in‐situ polymerization in the presence of organomodified clay leads to fluorinated nanocomposites with of partially exfoliated and intercalated morphologies, as determined via XRD and TEM analysis. The nanoscale dispersion of clay layers is also evidenced by thermal analysis; a moderate decrease of the glass transition temperature about 2–8 °C compared to their virgin PMATRIF and an improvement of their thermal stability as evidenced by TGA. The wettability of the nanocomposite films is also studied by contact angle measurements with water. The incorporation of organomodified clays not only increases the hydrophobicity of the fluorinated polymers but also improves the surface properties of obtained nanocomposites. Compared the virgin homopolymer, the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are reduced by addition of organomodifed clay at temperature from 30 to 60 °C, whereas this trend is gradually decreased at higher temperature. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 411–418