Preparation of polyHIPE/clay composites by using a reactive intercalant

ABSTRACT Porous polymer composites have been synthesized by polymerizing the continuous phase of styrene/divinylbenzene high internal phase emulsions in the presence of organophilic montmorillonite clay having a novel oil‐based intercalant which is a reactive methacryl derivative of quaternized methyl oleate. The morphological features, thermal stability and mechanical properties, namely compression modulus and crush strength of the resulting composites have been investigated as a function of degree of nanoclay loading. All the composites reinforced with the clay were found to have improved thermal and mechanical properties as well as desired porous and interconnected structural morphology, as compared with the bare polyHIPE matrix. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41333.