Preparation of PMMA/MMT Nanocomposites by Soap-free Emulsion Polymerization

Organo-montmorillonite was obtained by using allyltriethylammonium bromide to modify sodium montmorillonite through cation exchanging reaction.Poly(methyl methacrylate)/montmorillonite(PMMA/MMT) nanocomposites were synthesized by soap-free emulsion polymerization using methyl methacrylate(MMA) as monomer and potassium persulfide as initiator.The structures of the organo-montmorillonite and nanocomposites were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray diffraction spectroscopy(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The spacing increases from 1.32 nm to 1.44 nm after intercalation modification of MMT with the use of allyltriethylammonium bromide.FTIR and XRD results show that PMMA/ MMT nanocomposites with different MMT content have an exfoliated structure.SEM results show that the diameter of PMMA/MMT composite particles decreases with the increase of the MMT content.