Real-time XRD analysis of polystyrene/clay nanocomposites by in-situ polymerization

Abstract

In this study, we have examined the exfoliation behavior of layered clay during in-situ polymeriztion with styrene by using real-time XRD analysis. The 4C1 beam line at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL) was used for this study. Different exfoliation behaviors have been shown to depend on the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clay and the chemical structure of organic modifiers. For 10A-MMT and 15A-MMT having high CEC, no peak shifts were observed on real-time XRD analysis during polymerization. However, 20 for 25A-MMT and VDAC-MMT, each having low CEC's as well as aromatic benzene moieties and vinyl groups, respectively, decreased as polymerization time increased.