Polymer–Clay Nanocomposite Microspheres and their Thermosensitive Characteristics

Kazutoshi Haraguchi, Tetsuo Takada

doi:10.1002/macp.201300593

<jats:p>Polymer–clay nanocomposite (P‐NC) microspheres are synthesized through in situ free‐radical polymerization in aqueous media without the use of surfactants. Uniform aqueous dispersions of P‐NC microspheres without flocculation/precipitation are obtained for five types of (co)polymers with different hydrophilic/hydrophobic natures, in which the exfoliated clay platelets play an important role as crosslinkers and stabilizers in water. The sol–gel boundary, transparency of the aqueous dispersion, microsphere particle size, etc. vary depending on the compositions and polymerization methods. Aqueous dispersions of P‐NC microspheres with a well‐defined lower critical solution temperature (LCST)‐type thermosensitive transition are obtained by using <jats:italic>N</jats:italic>‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA), 2‐methoxyethylacrylate (MEA), and <jats:italic>N</jats:italic>,<jats:italic>N</jats:italic>‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) as the (co)monomers. In the case of P‐NC microspheres consisting of inorganic clay and NIPA‐DMAA or MEA‐DMAA copolymers, the LCST is controlled over a wide range, particularly depending on the DMAA content. The P‐NC microspheres applied within double‐layer glass plates are examined as reversible and efficient thermosensitive optical shutters. <jats:boxed-text content-type="graphic" position="anchor"><jats:graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" mimetype="image/jpg" position="anchor" specific-use="enlarged-web-image" xlink:href="graphic/macp201300593-abs-0001-m.jpg"><jats:alt-text>image</jats:alt-text></jats:graphic></jats:boxed-text></jats:p>

Polymer–Clay Nanocomposite Microspheres and their Thermosensitive Characteristics

Bibliographic Information

Search this article

Description

Journal

Citations (2)*help

References(47)*help

Related Projects

Details 詳細情報について

Export

Report a problem