Preparation and characterization of poly(acrylic acid)/pillared clay superabsorbent composite

Pillared clay-based superabsorbents (PILC-SA) were synthesized by using Al pillared-montmorillonite K10 and KSF via graft copolymerization reaction of acrylic acid (AA). Swelling behavior of pillared clay-based superabsorbent films in distilled water and at different pH values were investigated at room temperature. It was also obtained that Al-KSF and Al-K10 based superabsorbents were pH dependent and showed a reversible swelling behavior. Water absorbency of Al-KSF based superabsorbent was higher than that of Al-K10 based one. SEM, FTIR, and XRD analysis were conducted for further characterization of the PILC-SA. FTIR analyses lead to ester formation between PILC and SA. XRD revealed the basal spacing of the pillared clays before and after in situ incorporation indicating that the morphology of the superabsorbent was exfoliated and the layers of clay dispersed on the composite.