Synthesis of polymer/laponite nanocomposites by RAFT mediated emulsion polymerization for the production of nanostructured films with anisotropic properties

• Grant number: 13/00893-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Amilton Martins dos Santos
• Grantee: Thaíssa de Camargo Chaparro
• Supervisor: Elodie Bourgeat-Lami
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Chemistry, Catalysis, Polymers and Processes (C2P2), France
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/19919-6 - Synthesis of nanocomposites with anisotropic properties by controlled radical emulsion polymerization, BP.DD

Abstract

The incorporation of inorganic particles into polymeric materials is of great industrial and academic interest, as it provides many enhancements to the properties of polymer matrices, besides contributing to significant cost reductions. Recently, anisotropic particles have been the focus of many researches as an attractive charge for nanocomposites, since the high aspect ratio of these particles enhances significantly their efficiency as reinforcement. Even though current strategies for the preparation of nanocomposites via polymerization in aqueous media are still inefficient for a variety of inorganic particles, recent developments in controlled polymerization techniques in dispersed medium have been enabling the incorporation of a new range of particles with different morphologies. The aim of this work is to develop a synthetic method for the production of hybrid latex particles composed of Laponite platelets involved by a thin polymeric shell, by RAFT (reversible chain transfer via addition-fragmentation) mediated emulsion polymerization, using, for this purpose, amphipathic macroRAFT agents that carry suitable anchor groups capable of adsorbing onto the surface of the nanocharges and that are also able to control the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with n-butyl acrylate from the inorganic surface. This project is linked to the project IUPAC/FAPESP (2010/50383-5) and is being conducted in partnership with Dr. Elodie Bourgeat-Lami (LCPP/C2P2/CNRS, Lyon, France) and Dr. Ana Margarida Barros-Timmons (University of Aveiro, Portugal). (AU)