Textural properties of poly(glycidyl methacrylate): acid-modified bentonite nanocomposites

Abstract

The aim of this study was to obtain enhanced textural properties of macroporous crosslinked copolymer poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) by synthesizing nanocomposites with acid-modified bentonite. Nanocomposites were obtained by introducing various amounts of acid-modified bentonite (B-A) into the reaction system. All samples were characterized by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry, and low temperature physisorption of nitrogen. The FTIR and TEM analysis confirmed incorporation of B-A into the copolymer structure and the successful formation of nanocomposites. TEM images confirmed formation of nanocomposites having both intercalated and exfoliated acid-modified bentonite in copolymer matrix. A significant increase of specific surface area, pore volume, and porosity of the nanocomposites in comparison to the copolymer were obtained. The difference between textural properties of nanocomposites with different amounts of incorporated acid-modified bentonite was less prominent.