Reverse Microemulsion Template Polymerization in Site and Structure Characterization of Nano-AgCl/PMMA Composites

The AgCl/PMMA nano-composite was prepared by polymerization of MMA in site through reverse microemulsion as template, in which the methyl methacrylate(MMA) was designated as oily phase instead of non-reactive functional group solvents. The advantage of this method is that nanocomposite are prepared without the process of modification of nano-particles with organic substances and dispersing them in the matrix. TEM shows that the particle size of nano-AgCl is 20~80 nm, and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that nano-AgCl is dispersed in the PMMA. FTIR spectrum reveals that the micro-environment of H2O and carboxyl group has changed after the polymerization of MMA, which indicates that the interaction of nano-particle with polymer exists. DMTA spectrum results show that there is strong interaction of nano-particles with polymer chains, which restricts the mobility of polymer chains and forms an interphase layer. Ripening process affects the interaction of polymer with nano-particles. At the higher temperature ripening process, the interphase layer is overlapped and forms a continuous phase. DMTA reveals that the aqueous phase layer around the nanoparticles does not apparently affect the interaction of polymer with the nano-particles and the nano-particles acts as a cross-linker in the nanocomposite.