Final Properties of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites Prepared by Miniemulsion Polymerization

Final Properties of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites Prepared by Miniemulsion Polymerization 

Improvements in the application properties of films prepared from nanocomposite latexes are sought. The exfoliation state of the clay (more exfoliated means a larger interfacial area) and the chemistry between the surface of the clay platelets and the polymer matrix are the key parameters to achieve a significant enhancement of the final properties. Samakande et stated that the use of simple organic cations in the modification of clay layers and the subsequent use of the modified clays in the preparation of nanocomposites results in polymeric nanocomposites with only moderately enhanced properties (e.g. thermomechanical). They concluded that for exceptional property enhancement, functional or reactive surfactants are required, in order to compatibilize both phases further. 

Diaconu and co-workers also studied the thermal and barrier properties of MMA-BA polymers prepared with different types of organo-MMT in miniemulsion polymerization. They observed that the thermal and barrier properties of the coating type of nanocomposite polymer were enhanced in the presence of clay. Nevertheless, the enhancement of the properties expected when a chemical link was provided between the reactive modified clay and the polymer was not found in this case (see Table 10.3). 

However, this further enhancement was observed in a recent study by Micusik et al., where the commercial non-reactive clay C30B and reactive organoclay CMA16 were compared. It was demonstrated that the reactive 

Thermal stability, water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability for MMA BA eopolymer prepared by miniemulsion polymerization and its nanoeomposites with 3 wbm% of Cloisite 30B, 4 wbm% of living oligomer-MMT and 1.8 wbm% of CMA16-MMT. 

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