Surfactant-free emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of silylated montmorillonite

We report surfactant-free emulsion polymerization of styrene by using five types of montmorillonite modified by grafting monofunctional alkoxysilanes. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) determinations were strongly influenced by the presence of modified montmorillonite. FTIR and XRD spectra confirmed the incorporation of montmorillonite in the polymer matrix. The morphology of the latex particles was changed. Spherical and snowman particles indicated that the platelets were both inside and outside of the polymer particles.