Nanocomposites by in situ polymerization based on styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer and clay

Nanocomposites based on styrene and maleic anhydride copolymers (SMA/Mag-CTA) are obtained through in situ polymerization method in the presence of Maghnite (Mag) a montmorillonite clay material as nano-reinforcing filler and benzoyl peroxide as a catalyst. The Mag-CTA is organophilic silicate clay prepared through a direct exchange process, using Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in which it used as green nano-filler. The prepared SMA/Mag-CTA nanocomposites have been extensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM analysis confirms the results obtained by XRD and clearly show the nature of SMA/Mag-CTA nanocomposites. Mag-CTA layers are partially exfoliated for the lower amount of clay (3 wt%), intercalated for higher amounts of clay (5 and 7 wt%), and well dispersed in SMA copolymers. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis data indicated an enhancement of thermal stability of nanocomposites compared with the pure copolymer.