Studies on properties of softwood (Ficus hispida)/PMMA nanocomposites reinforced with polymerizable surfactant-modified nanoclay

Soft wood (Ficus hispida) was chemically modified by impregnation of methyl methacrylate monomer, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), a cross-linking agent, and montmorillonite (MMT) using catalyst heat treatment. MMT was modified by using a polymerizable surfactant 2-acryloloxy ethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (ATAC) and a mixture of surfactants ATAC and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) in a molar ratio of (1:1). A comparative study on different properties of the prepared wood polymer nanocomposite (WPNC) based on impregnation of intercalating mixture containing MMA/GMA/clay modified by both the surfactants (ATAC and CTAB) and MMA/GMA/clay modified by only surfactant ATAC were done. FTIR, XRD, and TGA studies were employed for the characterization of clay and WPNC. WPNC prepared by using combined surfactant-modified clay along with MMA/GMA exhibited improved dimensional stability, chemical resistance, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and lower water uptake than that of WPNC prepared by using single surfactant-modified clay and MMA/GMA system.