Nanoclay stabilized Pickering miniemulsion of fluorinated copolymer with improved hydrophobicity via RAFT polymerizationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5ra25808a

• Main Authors: Chakrabarty, Arindam, Ponnupandian, Siva, Naskar, Kinsuk, Singha, Nikhil K
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 11.04.2016
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra25808a

This investigation reports the preparation of fluorinated copolymer/clay nanocomposite latex by Pickering miniemulsion polymerization using nanoclay sodium montmorillonite (NaMMT) as sole stabilizer. In this case the copolymerization of styrene (St), butyl acrylate (BA) and 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA) was carried out via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) process. Addition of 2-(acryloyloxy) ethyl trimethylammonium chloride (AETAC) increased the rate of polymerization. As nanoclays are negatively charged silicate layers, AETAC, a cationic monomer was introduced to increase the polymer-clay interaction via ion-exchange which has beneficial effect on the final properties of the copolymer. The copolymers had controlled molecular weights as well as narrow dispersity ( Ð ). Nanoclay armored morphology was observed by TEM and SEM analyses. The polymers had improved hydrophobicity and lower water uptake rate due to improved polymer-clay interaction. Fluoropolymer/clay nanocomposite with improved polymer-clay interaction via electrostatic attraction was prepared by Pickering miniemulsion polymerization.