Poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) and its copolymers/silicate nanocomposites were prepared via radical polymerization. Exfoliated poly (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) /silicate nanocomposites were obtained up to 20wt% of clay without modifying clay organically, which made the polymer end-tethered on pristine Na-MMT. On the other hand intercalated nanocomposites were obtained with increased the amount of buthyl acrylate (BA). As the amount of AMPS increased, it was easy to enlarge and exfoliate the clay layers. Nanocomposites prepared with 50% of Na-MMT show obvious peaks at about 5° in 2θ angles indicating the formation of intercalated nanocomposites.
Rheological measurements indicate that the complex viscosity and storage modulus of the nanocomposite were affected by contents of silicates and BA. It can be observed that the polymers exhibit Newtonian behavior at low BA content and shear thinning behavior at high BA content. In present of clay, complex viscosity and storage modulus increased as the content of silicate, but the rheological difference between 10wt% and 20wt% of the clay was showed a slight decline as the content of BA. Moreover, 10wt% nanocomposite was higher than 20wt% nanocomposite in complex viscosity and storage modulus. It indicates the intercalated nanocomposite has the lower rheological properties.
The nanocomposites showed high ionic conductivity up to 10wt% of the clay. The ionic conductivity of nanocomposites is a little affected by the contents of BA and silicate up to 10wt% of the clay. Ionic conductivity of nanocomposite solution was low containing 20wt% clay because clay deters the flow of the charge carrier.
