Premium
Effect of Nanoclay on in situ Preparation of “All Acrylate” ABA Triblock Copolymers via ATRP and Their Morphology
Author(s) -
Singha Nikhil K.,
Kavitha Amalin,
Haloi Dhruba J.,
Mandal Prithwiraj,
Janke Andreas,
Jehnichen Dieter,
Komber Hartmut,
Voit Brigitte
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201200174
Subject(s) - copolymer , nanocomposite , small angle x ray scattering , materials science , polymer chemistry , methyl methacrylate , acrylate , methacrylate , butyl acrylate , morphology (biology) , polymer , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemical engineering , composite material , scattering , biology , genetics , physics , optics , engineering
The preparation and characterization of a series of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐ block ‐poly(butyl acrylate)‐ block ‐poly(methyl methacrylate) ABA triblock copolymers and their clay nanocomposites via in situ ATRP is reported. The molecular weights and the chemical structures of these nanocomposites are characterized by means of GPC, FTIR, and NMR analyses. DSC, AFM, and SAXS analyses prove a nanophase‐separated morphology in the block copolymer/clay nanocomposites. DMA analysis demonstrates an additional reinforcing effect of nanoclay in the block copolymer nanocomposites. AFM analysis indicates that the bulk polymer has a cylindrical morphology that is unaffected in the nanocomposite, as corroborated by SAXS analysis.