Nanocomposites consisting of nanoscale silica layers and various polymers were synthesized via surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization. The layered silicas were synthesized using the surfactant templating, and subsequently the surfactant was displaced by an organosilane bearing the polymerization initiation site. The grafting of polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyacrylonitrile from the surface of silica layers was performed using normal atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) ATRP. The resulting composites were characterized by thermogravimetry and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The polymer content was controlled over a wide range by changing the polymerization time and other conditions. SAXS patterns showed that the ordering of the layers was often preserved for small polymer loadings and the interplanar spacing increased with the loading, but the periodicity was lost as the loading was further increased. ARGET ATRP allowed us to reduce the residual content of copper catalyst in the product.

Synthesis of composites of layered silica with polymer via surface-initiated ATRP

244th National Meeting (2012)

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