MALDI-TOF MS Analysis of the Grafting of Clay Nanoparticles with Poly(butyl acrylate)

Polymer/clay hybrid materials are synthesised by grafting polymer chains from the surface of Laponite clay via surface-initiated RAFT polymerisation of butyl acrylate. The grafted polymer chains are analysed directly from the clay using MALDI-TOF MS. The polymer-grafted clay particles are analysed regarding their oligomer distribution using a matrix of dihydroxy-9,10-dihydroanthracen-9-one (dithranol) without the addition of a cationising salt. The end-group structures of the free and grafted polymers are also studied. The work presented here expands the application bracket for MALDI-TOF MS as it shows that the analysis of polymers attached to a solid surface via electrostatic interactions is possible without detaching them. Complimentary results from SEC and NMR are also presented.