Enhanced thermal Properties and Gas Barrier Property of PMMA Nanocomposites with Layered Silicate via Soap-Free Emulsion Polymerization

Abstract

ABSTRACTPolymer/SWN nanocomposites were synthesized in the soap-free emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using 2-hydroxylethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The SWN in the polymer/SWN nanocomposites was individually dispersed in water, and these are adsorbed on the surface of monomer droplets. Polymer/SWN nanocomposites were obtained by adding an aqueous dispersion of layered silicate to the polymer emulsion. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FT-IR spectra were utilized to characterize the structures of the nanocomposites. The degree of dispersion of these nanocomposites was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the thermal and mechanical properties of polymer/SWN nanocomposites were determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The increased tanδ of the obtained nanocomposites is caused by the fine dispersion of SWN particles into the polymer matri