Preparation, Characterisation and Mechanical Properties of Montmorillonite Polyanyline Nanocomposites

Abstract

The montmorillonite (MMT) clay was intercalated with polyaniline (PANI) to prepare montmorillonite - polyaniline nanocomposites (MMT-PANI). The MMT clay was ion exchanged with H+ and dried at 120°C for 2 hours. The H+ present in the clay was then exchanged with anilinium ions. The anilinium ions r.resent within the intergalleries were polymerized by a chemical oxidation route using 8208 ', The resultant slurry was dried under room temperature for 3 to 4 days. The green coloured polyaniline form known as the emeraldine salt (EMS) containing MMT composite (EMS - MMT) was obtained. Various compositions with different clay contents (2 g, 3 g, 4 g, 5 g, and 10 g) were prepared with constant polymer content and named as EMS-MMTI, EMS-MMTI, EMS-MMT4, EMSMMT5 and EMS-MMTlO respectively. X-ray diffraction spectra (Seimens D-5000, Radiation Cu lea A. = O.l540562nm) were obtained for raw MMT clay, H+ treated MMT and for the EMS-MMT series.