In-situ Polymerization of Styrene to Produce Polystyrene / Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

A reactive cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was synthesized for intercalation of montmorillonite Mmt, a Maghnite type of clay. The pristine montmorillonite (Mmt) was obtained from Algerian plant with a cation exchange, Organophilic Mmt, was prepared by ion exchange between Na+ ions in the clay. CTAB-intercalated Mmt particles were easily dispersed and swollen in styrene monomer, PS/Mmt-CTAB nanocomposites were synthesized via in-situ polymerization, in-situ polymerization, this method is based on the swelling of the silicate layers with the liquid polymer. The polymer composites were characterized using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), The results were showed that, the basal space of the silicate layer increased, as determined by XRD, from 12.79 to 32.603 ？. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that exfoliation of Mmt was achieved. In this current research, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and force atomic microscopy (AFM) were also studied. ？ 2015 BCREC UNDIP. All rights reserved Received: 29th June 2015; Revised: 9th August 2015; Accepted: 15th August 2015 How to Cite: Mrah, L., Megabar, R., Belbachir, M. (2015). In-situ Polymerization of Styrene to Produce Polystyrene / Montmorillonite Nanocomposites. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis, 10 (3): 249-255. (doi: 10.9767/bcrec.10.3.8708.249-255) Permalink/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.10.3.8708.249-25