Poly(octadecyl acrylate)-b-polystyrene (PODA-b-PS) block copolymer was grafted in-situ from montmorillonite clay sheets using ARGET (activators regenerated by electron transfer) ATRP, which is regarded as a �green� procedure due to the low amount of copper catalyst required. This synthetic approach enabled us to reproducibly grow dense block copolymer (BCP) brushes from clay surfaces, and obtain a good dispersion of clay sheets in the polymer matrix.  Grafted BCPs showed controlled molecular weight and low polydispersity indices, and demonstrated a microphase segregated structure. Control over the spatial arrangement and ordering of the constituent material is essential to developing composites with tunable morphologies and properties.  The chosen block copolymer architecture of the composite materials resembles that of a triblock thermoplastic elastomer, with glassy PS domains sandwiching the semi-crystalline PODA domain, which is divided by the clay platelets.  Given that the clay sheets occupy the semi-crystalline PODA domain a relatively high local concentration (> 10 wt%), the nanocomposites have potential as high barrier materials.

Surface initiated polymerization for semi-crystalline block copolymer nanocomposites

247th National Meeting (2014)

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