In situ suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride/3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MPTMS)-intercalated Mg-Al-hydroxide layered double hydroxide: I. Grain properties

Abstract

Suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride (VCM) was carried out in the presence of particle of both pristine Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) and LDH intercalated by 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MPTMS-LDH) in a pilot-scale reactor. The experiments were conducted at different concentrations of each type of the particles (0, 1, 3, 5, 7 wt. % of VCM). The pure LDH and MPTMS-intercalated LDHs were used as co-monomer for fabrication of LDH or MPTMS-LDH/PVC nanocomposites; the particles were directly pre-dispersed in monomer phase before dispersing in the continuous aqueous phase and starting the suspension polymerization. The basal spacing obtained from the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) showed that the reaction between VCM and MPTMS-LDH was effective, with a further intercalation of PVC chains in the interlayer space. The molecular characterization showed that the polydispersity index (PDI) and molecular weight of the poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) resin do not change in the presence of the pristine LDH. The MPTMS-LDH, however, decrease the molecular weight and increase the PDI of PVC resin. Also, from the morphological point of view, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that PVC grains produced with high particles content had a smoother surface with more regular shape. Moreover the incorporation of nanoparticles in the VCM suspension polymerization, made particles with a narrower size distribution. The LDH results in the formation of smaller primary particles with higher internal porosity whereas, the larger primary particles with lower internal porosity in the presence of modified particles was observed.