Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.104, No.5, 3317-3323, 2007
Synthesis and characterization of new reducing agent based on methylmethacrylate-vinylpyridene copolymer-clay nanocomposites
Methyhnethacrylate (MMA)-vinylpyridine (VP) copolymer-montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared, by direct interaction of sodium montmorillonite with various copolymers of MMA-VP, using different ratios of VP. The interaction occurred through ion exchange between sodium cations in MAT and pyridinium ions in the copolymers. The resulting composites were reacted with lithium aluminum hydride forming the supported reagents. The structure of the resulting composites, as determined by elemental analysis, Infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, consisted of the insertions of MMA-VP macromolecules between lamellar layers. Because of cooperative formation of electrostatic bonding the copolymers were strongly fixed to the inorganic surfaces. The absence of observable transition in the thermogram, using differential scanning calorimetry, confirmed the copolymer sandwiching between the inorganic layers. The thermal stability of nanocomposites was investigated by thermogravimetry analysis. The dispersion of the MMT particles in the polymer matrix was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. The effectiveness of these materials has been examined in the reduction of potassium ferricyanide. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.