Encapsulation of Clay Within Polymer Particles in a High Solids Aqueous Dispersion

REYES, Y.; PERUZZO, P.J.; FERNÁNDEZ, M.; PAULIS, M.; LEIZA, J.R.

LANGMUIR

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2013 vol. 39 p. 9849 - 9856

0743-7463

By using a two-step polymerization process it was possible to encapsulate clay platelets within polymer particles dispersed in water. First, seed polymer particles with chemically bonded clay were obtained by batch miniemulsion polymerization. Then, the clay was buried within the particles by the addition of neat monomer in a second step. The final stable dispersions can have up to 50 wt % of solids content. TEM images clearly show the presence of clay platelets inside the polymer colloids, although not totally exfoliated. The obtained nanocomposites showed an increase in both the storage modulus at rubbery state and in the water resistance as clay content increases. The approach presented in this work might be useful to encapsulate other high aspect ratio nanofillers.