aGrafting througha approach for synthesis of polystyrene/silica aerogel nanocomposites by in situ reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Aerogel/polystyrene nanocomposites with mixed free and aerogel-attached polystyrene chains were synthesized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. 3-methacryloxypropyldimethylchlorosilane containing a double bond, which could be incorporated into polystyrene ch...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sol-gel science and technology 2013-05, Vol.66 (2), p.337-344
Main Authors: Sobani, Masoud, Haddadi-Asl, Vahid, Salami-Kalajahi, Mehdi, Roghani-Mamaqani, Hossein, Mirshafiei-Langari, Seyed-Ataollah, Khezri, Khezrollah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addition polymerization
Aerogels
Chain transfer
Chains (polymeric)
Nanocomposites
Polymerization
Polystyrene resins
Silica aerogels
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Summary:Aerogel/polystyrene nanocomposites with mixed free and aerogel-attached polystyrene chains were synthesized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. 3-methacryloxypropyldimethylchlorosilane containing a double bond, which could be incorporated into polystyrene chains by a agrafting througha approach, was used as an aerogel modifier. Kinetics of RAFT polymerization of styrene in the presence of modified silica aerogel was studied by monitoring conversion and molar mass values. To further study, attached polymers were detached and their molecular characteristics were compared to free chains. According to results, the presence of silica aerogel particles has a sensible influence on polymerization kinetic and more aerogels result in decreased polymerization rate and conversion. The dispersity (A) of polymer chains increased by the addition of silica aerogel. In the case of aerogel-attached polystyrene chains, number-averaged molar mass values were slightly lower than that of free chains. Also, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were used to observe the effect of loading on thermal properties of synthesized nanocomposites.
ISSN:0928-0707
1573-4846
DOI:10.1007/s10971-013-3015-8