PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL AND THERMAL ANALYSIS OF STYRENE-CO-GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE / FUMED SILICA / CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES

Abstract

Styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate-fumed silica-clay (ST-co-GMA-fsi-clay) nanocomposites have been prepared via free radical polymerization in the presence of benzoyl peroxide. The nanocomposites are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), adsorption isotherm, tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and moisture absorption. FT-IR shows the Si-O-C peak that represented ST-co-GMA-fsi bonding while Si-O-Si peak shows the bonding of fsi-clay. The surface morphology shows the well dispersion of clay (1.30E) into ST-co-GMA-fsi nanocomposite. 2wt% of ST-co-GMA-fsi-clay (1.30E) nanocomposite has higher specific surface area and average pore volume with less pore size. Incorporation of 2wt% of clay (1.30E) improves the tensile strength and modulus of the nanocomposites as well as higher thermal stability and activation energy. 2wt% of ST-co-GMA-fsi-clay (1.30E) nanocomposite shows the lowest moisture absorption value.