Effect of different modified nanoclays on the kinetics of preparation and properties of polymer-based nanocomposites

Polymer-clay nanocomposites have been prepared by free radical and RAFT polymerizations. To investigate the effects of nanoclay content and its modification system on the kinetics of polymerization, two different commercial grades of clay including Na-MMT and Cloisite 30B have been used and a method has been developed for further modification of Na-MMT with two commercial modifiers containing either a long organic chain or a vinyl group. Also, kinetics of free radical and RAFT polymerizations of both styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of these nanoclays was studied. Morphology of the nanocomposites has been studied by XRD and the results have been assessed with TEM observations. Exfoliated structure was obtained for the nanocomposites with 1 wt.% of vinyl-containing clays. Thermogravimetric behavior of the nanocomposites has been studied by TGA. Incorporation of clays has resulted in an evident increase in thermal stability of both polymers.