Radiation-induced synthesis of vinyl copolymer based nanocomposites filled with reactive organic montmorillonite clay

Vinyl copolymer–clay nanocomposites were prepared by γ-irradiation-initiated radical polymerization using a mixture of styrene (St) and divinyl benzene (DVB) in the presence of reactive organic montmorillonite clay (OMMT) in methanol at room temperature. Reactive OMMT was synthesized by a cation exchange reaction of Na+-MMT and 1-[(4-ethylphenyl)methyl]-3-butyl-imidazolium chloride as a reactive organic modifier in an aqueous solution. The microstructures of the nanocomposites were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal stability was examined by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). As a result, the reactive OMMT was a good additive material for preparing vinyl copolymer–clay nanocomposites.

► Vinyl copolymer–clay nanocomposites were prepared by γ-irradiation.
► Different St/DVB monomer ratios used to alter the crosslinking of the polymers.
► TEM revealed well exfoliated clay sheets dispersed in the ST/DVB copolymer matrix.
► More highly crosslinked copolymers formed as increasing DVB content.