AI Article Synopsis
- The researchers developed a two-step polymerization method to encapsulate clay platelets in polymer particles suspended in water.
- In the first step, they created seed polymer particles with bonded clay through batch miniemulsion polymerization, and in the second step, they added more monomers to bury the clay within the particles.
- The final product showed higher strength and water resistance as the amount of clay increased, and this technique could also be applied to other similar materials.
Article Abstract
By using a two-step polymerization process, it was possible to encapsulate clay platelets within polymer particles dispersed in water. First, seed polymer particles with chemically bonded clay were obtained by batch miniemulsion polymerization. Then, the clay was buried within the particles by the addition of neat monomer in a second step. The final stable dispersions can have a solids content of up to 50 wt %. Transmission electron microscopy images clearly show the presence of clay platelets inside the polymer colloids, although they are not totally exfoliated. The obtained nanocomposites showed an increase in both the storage modulus in the rubbery state and the water resistance as the clay content increases. The approach presented here might be useful for encapsulating other high-aspect ratio nanofillers.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la401301s | DOI Listing |
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