Preparation and Characterization of Novel Glycidyl Methacrylate/Clay Nanocomposites

  • Ivan S. Stefanović Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute (ICTM), University of Belgrade
  • Bojana M. Marković Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute (ICTM), University of Belgrade
  • Aleksandra B. Nastasović Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute (ICTM), University of Belgrade
  • Zorica M. Vuković Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute (ICTM), University of Belgrade
  • Aleksandra Dapčević Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade
  • Vladimir B. Pavlović Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade

Abstract

The impact of the type and amounts of nanofiller on the features of the glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (GMA-co-EGDMA)/organomodified montmorillonite (OMt) nanocomposites that were prepared by in situ radical suspension polymerization, was examined. Cloisite 30B and Cloisite 25A were used in this study as nanofillers, in amounts of 2 and 10 wt.%. The structure, morphology, thermal stability and porosity of the initial GMA-co-EGDMA copolymer and their nanocomposites were examined by ATR-FTIR analysis, wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and mercury porosimetry. It has been established that both clay nanofillers were successfully incorporated into the structure of the initial copolymer, simultaneously on their surface and also on cross-sectional area. Prepared samples with 2 wt.% have predominantly exfoliated, while samples with 10 wt.% have some tactoids-aggregates structure of the OMt layers. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that after ~ 30 % of degradation, all nanocomposites become more thermal stable than the initial copolymer. The obtained results indicate that porosity parameters can be easily modified with the addition of clay nanofillers and thus prepared nanocomposites adjusted to specific purposes.

Published
2022-05-03
Section
Articles