The synthesis of Inorganic/organic nanocomposite systems, better known as hybrid materials, represents a new class of polymeric materials, which combine the properties of the inorganic particles, such as barrier properties, optical, catalytic, conductive properties, among others, with flexibility and transparency of the organic polymer matrix, being easily processable. There are different types of nanoparticles, for instance, silica nanospheres, nanoclays, carbon nanotubes, metallic nanoparticles, and hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles like polyhedral oligo silsesquioxane (POSS), among others. There are also common methods to produce polymer nanocomposites: melt compounding, in-situ polymerization and mixing in solution and then casting. In this work we have investigated the synthesis conditions to incorporate inorganic nanoparticles of SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2, into polyacrylic latex (utilized in commercial coatings), via emulsion polymerization. Furthermore, we have also studied the effect of concentration of nanoparticles on the stability of the emulsion, the monomer conversion, formation of agglomerates and molecular weight. The nanoparticles sizes ranged from 8 nm (SiO2) to ca. 150 nm (TiO2). The nanocomposite latex were shear thinning, exhibiting a power-law behavior. Films were cast and these were optically transparent, suggesting good dispersion of the nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. Finally, contact angle measurements showed that SiO2 induced hydrophobic behavior in the nanocomposite coatings.

Synthesis of hybrid nanostructured coatings from metallic oxide nanoparticles via emulsion polymerization

245th National Meeting (2013)

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