Polyurethane Acrylate/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

In order to create polymer nanocomposites with high performance on the basis of polyurethane acrylates (PUA) with montmorillonite (MMT), three methods of chemical modification of the layered silicate surface have been developed. The first modification method is based on using of two different functional modifiers (organophilic and reactive), the second method is based on modification with synthesized by us compound which contains urethane groups, and the third one in based on using synthesized by us modifier containing urethane and reactive groups. Exchange capacity of the MMT surface was determined by adsorption of indicator “methylene blue”. Intercalation of modifier into the interlayer space of MMT was confirmed by X-ray analysis; the content of organic component in the modified MMT (MMT/M) was determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The resulting organoclay is purposed for the formation of nanostructured composites based on cross-linked polyurethane acrylates with improved physical and mechanical properties. The obtained polyurethane acrylate nanocomposites with different type MMT/M exhibit the increased in 1.6 2.6 times tensile strength as compared to original polymer matrix. WAXS method has proved an intercalation of modifier into MMT interlayer space (increased distance between layers after modification), as well as the total exfoliation of MMT in PUA matrix, characterized by the disappearance of the absorption peak which is responsible for layered structure.