Synthesis and characterization of new polysiloxane bearing vinylic function and its application for the preparation of poly (silicone-co-acrylate)/montmorillonite nanocomposite emulsion

A new silicone containing acrylic monomer, methacryloxyethyl polymethylhydrosiloxane ether (MEPMHSE), based on polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) has been synthesized for formulation of nanocomposite emulsion. Then Poly (silicone-co-acrylate)/montmorillonite (PSAM)/nanocomposite emulsion were prepared by in situ intercalative emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), methacrylic acid (MAA) and MEPMHSE, in the presence of organic modified montmorillonite (OMMT) with different OMMT contents (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 wt%) and auxiliary agents in the presence of potassium persulphate (KPS) as initiator. Alkylphenol ethersulphate and Arkupal N-300 were used as anionic and non-ionic emulsifiers, respectively. The resulting monomer was characterized by Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton (¹H NMR), and carbon (¹³C NMR) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopes. The OMMT was characterized by FTIR and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanocomposite emulsions were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), laser light scattering and surface tension. Thermal properties of the copolymers were studied by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and then the effects of OMMT percent on the water absorption ratio and drying speed were examined. Results showed that OMMT could improve the properties of emulsion, in other words, the properties of nanocomposite emulsion were better when compared with those of the silicone–acrylate emulsion. The property of nanocomposite emulsion containing 1 wt% OMMT was the best one, and the following advantages were obtained: smaller particle size, faster drying speed, smaller surface tension, and improved resistant water by the incorporation of OMMT.