Polyacrylamide-clay nacre-like nanocomposites prepared by electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic deposition of montmorillonite modified by acrylamide monomers was performed in an aqueous suspension. The acrylamide monomers functioned as both the intercalating agent and the reacting monomers. The suspension was prepared by the dispersion of organic clay in distilled water, and followed by the electrophoretic deposition. After that, the deposit on the electrode was treated by ultraviolet-radiation free-radical polymerization with benzil as a photo-initiator. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and nano-indentation. The d-spacing of (0 0 1) diffraction peak of the clay was increased from 1.29 nm to 1.89 nm by the intercalation of acrylamide. The SEM showed a layered structure similar to those found in the natural nacre. The hardness and modulus of the film are 0.95 GPa and 16.92 GPa, respectively.