Aqueous polymerization on clay surfaces. III. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate by montmorillonite/thiourea initiating system

Initiation of polymerization of methyl methacrylate with redox system montmorillonite (with lattice Fe³⁺)–thiourea has been achieved. The rates are dependent on both clay mineral and thiourea. Amidosulfenyl radicals are believed to initiate the polymerization on the clay surface. The polymerization produced nonextractable clay–polymer adduct up to an extent of 70 wt %. The pH of the medium (in the acidic range) did not affect the polymerization rate.