| Abstract: | Polymer/mica nanocomposites of styrene or methyl methacrylate have been prepared by emulsion polymerization. For the polymer/mica nanocomposites, the mica was dispersed individually in water, and we found that they were adsorbed on the surface of monomer droplets. Polymer/mica nanocomposites were obtained by adding an aqueous dispersion of layered silicate into the polymer emulsion. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR spectra were used to characterize the structures of the nanocomposites. The degree of dispersion of these nanocomposites were investigated by using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the thermal and mechanical properties of polymer/mica nanocomposites were determined by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The increased tan δ of the obtained nanocomposites is ascribed to the fine dispersion of mica particles into the polymer matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers |
