10.1021/la904827d
The study investigates the influence of surfactant architecture on the properties of polystyrene-montmorillonite (PS-MMT) nanocomposites. A variety of surfactants were designed and synthesized to modify clay, aiming to understand how their chemical structure affects the nanocomposite's morphology after polymerization. The research focused on the behavior of surfactant-modified clays at three stages: post ion-exchange, after dispersion in styrene monomer, and following polymerization. The compatibility and prediction of the nanocomposite morphology were assessed based on the styrene monomer's ability to swell the surfactant-modified clay. Key factors identified for achieving exfoliated morphologies included the position of the ammonium group, the presence of a polymerizable group, surfactant solubility in the monomer, the length of the alkyl chain, and the concentration of surfactant used for clay modification. Techniques such as small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were utilized to characterize the clay-polymer interactions and the properties of the resulting composites. The findings are expected to enhance the design of clay modifications for polymer nanocomposites.