Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Functionalized Montmorillonite for the Preparation of Polymer-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites Through Iniferter-based Controlled Radical Polymerization of Methylmethacrylate and Styrene

To incorporate polymer in between montmorillonite (MMT) galleries in a controlled fashion, controlled radical polymerization (CRP) was carried out in the presence of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA)-anchored montmorillonite using tetraphenylethane-based thermal iniferter. The use of DMAEMA-anchored MMT enhanced the interaction between polymer and MMT, due to this, enhanced T_g up to 10°C and enhanced thermal stability up to 50°C were observed. As CRP mechanism is followed during the synthesis of nanocomposites, the amount and molecular weight of polymers incorporated inside the MMT galleries can easily be controlled just by changing polymerization time.