Photopolymerization and characteristics of reactive organoclay-polyurethane nanocomposites

Polymerizable ammonium surfactants with two methacrylate alkyl chains were successfully synthesized via Michael‐Addition and quaternization reaction. Organoclays containing reactive methacrylate groups were prepared by cationic exchange process. Intercalated nanocomposites have been produced by UV initiated polymerization with different organophilic clay loading. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy showed that the d spacing of organoclay increased with increment of methacrylate alkyl chains length. When organoclay were dispersed in urethane acrylate resin, and photopolymerized, the d spacing increased, but the increasing extent decreased with increment of the methacrylate alky chains length. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that incorporation of reactive organoclay had better thermal stablity than cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMA)‐modified organoclay and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed nanocomposites containing reactive organoclay had high glass transition temperature and storage modulus. Tensile analysis implied that incorporation of reactive organoclay could enhance mechanical and tensile properties dramatically. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers