Amphiphilic polymer-grafted palygorskite nanorods via surface olefin cross-metathesis for versatile applications

Abstract

As an abundant natural nanomaterial, clay mineral has been intensely investigated for various applications, especially after surface modification with polymer. Here, amphiphilic polymer-grafted palygorskite (P-Pal) nanorods were prepared via surface olefin cross-metathesis reaction between the vinyl modified palygorskite (V-Pal) nanorods and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). After the surface olefin cross-metathesis reaction under the optimized condition, the resultant P-Pal nanorods could be well dispersed into water and toluene respectively, indicating the amphiphilic property with the grafted polymer molecules as the hydrophobic groups and clay nanorods as hydrophilic substance. The P-Pal nanorods showed promising applications as nano-reinforcing agent in polymer-based nanocomposites, self-separable adsorbent for waste water treatment, and hybrid surfactant for Pickering emulsion.