Characteristics of the surface modification of montmorillonite with a bifunctional block copolymer

Abstract

A bifunctional polystyrenic block copolymer with 4vinyl pyridine (4VP) units in one block and pendant methacrylate units in the other block (MMSP) was prepared and employed as a surface modifier for montmorillonite (MMT). The interaction of the 4VP units with the surface of MMT layers was examined by using spectroscopic methods. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy data exhibited an increase in the interlayer spacing (D value) of MMSP-MMT with an increased amount of MMSP, confirming the high reactivity of 4VP units and the effective intercalation of MMSP to MMT (MMSPMMT). In a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study, linear shifting and a narrower band width of the SiAOASi stretching vibration with increased MMSP content indicated effective intercalation and surface modification processes. With an increased amount of MMSP, the relative amount of free pyridyl units to pyridinium units increased, indicating plausible saturation of the MMT surface at high MMSP content. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1640–1647, 2013. V C 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers