The Stability and Properties of Polystyrene/Kaolinite Nanocomposites during Synthesis via Emulsion Polymerization

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 15; no. 9; p. 2094
• Main Authors: de Macêdo Neto, José Costa, de Freitas, Bruno Mello, de Miranda, Adalberto Gomes, de Almeida Rodrigues, Reinaldo, Del Pino, Gilberto Garcia, Kieling, Antônio Claudio, Dos Santos, Marcos Dantas, Duvoisin Junior, Sergio, Sanches, Antônio Estanislau, Gondres Torné, Israel, Silva, Cláudia Cândida, da Costa, João Carlos Martins, Bello, Roger Hoel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 28-04-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Aqueous solutions; Chemical synthesis; Clay; emulsion; Emulsion polymerization; High resolution electron microscopy; Kaolinite; Latex; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Particle size; Polymerization; Polymers; Polystyrene resins; Stability; Brazil; emulsion; polymerization; kaolinite; nanocomposites
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym15092094

The aim of this work was to study the stability and morphological properties of polystyrene latex containing kaolinite as a filler during the process of synthesis of nanocomposites viaemulsion polymerization. Nanocomposites with 1, 3, and 5 wt% of kaolinite were prepared. Latexes with 1 to 3 wt% of kaolinite were stable during the polymerization reaction. Hydrodynamic diameters of 93.68 and 82.11 nm were found for latexes with 1 and 3 wt% of kaolinite, respectively. The quantities of 1 to 3 wt% of kaolinite added during the reaction did not influence the reaction conversion curves or the number of particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and unconventional techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) showed the presence of exfoliated and intercalated structures of the kaolinite.