Effect of Reaction Parameters on Swelling Properties of Poly (Acrylic Acid-Acrylamide/Montmorillonite) Nanocomposite Superabsorbents

In this paper, the intercalated organic-montmorillonite (OMMT) was prepared by the cation exchange reaction, using N,N'-dimethyl-N-dodeoyl methacryloxylethyl ammonium bromide (DMAEA-DB) as an intercalation agent, which contain vinyl group. Then a novel poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/OMMT nanocomposite superabsorbent was synthesized by inverse suspension polymerization. The superabsorbent hydrogels prepared were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FT-IR Spectrometer (FTIR). The effect of polymerization variables, including the amount of OMMT, cross-linker, initiator, acrylic acid (AA), and neutralization degree of AA, on water absorbency were investigate. Results showed that the intercalation was successful. OMMT dispersed in polymer molecules on a nanoscale after copolymerization. The water absorbency of the nanocomposite was much higher than that of the pure P(AA-AM). The highest absorbencies of nanocomposites for deionized water and saline water (0.9%) were 1100 mL/g and 87.5 mL/g, respectively.