Intercalated PS/Na+-MMT nanocomposites prepared by ultrasonically initiated in situ emulsion polymerization

A new technique, ultrasonically initiated in situ emulsion polymerization, was employed to prepare intercalated polystyrene/Na+-MMT nanocomposites. FTIR, XRD, and TEM results confirm that the hydrophobic PS can easily intercalate into the galleries of hydrophilic montmorillonite via ultrasonically initiated in situ emulsion polymerization, taking advantages of the multi-effects of ultrasonic irradiation, such as dispersion, pulverization, activation, and initiation. Properly reducing SDS concentration is beneficial to widen the d-spacing between clay layers. However, the Na+-MMT amount has little effect on the d-spacing of nanocomposites. The glass transition temperature of nanocomposites increased as the percentage of clay increased, although the average molecular weight of PS decreased, and the decomposition temperature of the I obtained nanocomposites moves to higher temperature.