Preparation of Mixed Surface-Initiated and Free Polystyrene Nanocomposite via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

within the past few decades , polymer/ clay nanocomposite consisting of inorganic montmorillonite and organic polymer matrix on account of their superior engineering properties compared to neat polymer matrix has attracted immense an attention in both academic and industrial communication compared to conventionally filled composites. in accord with the reactants processing system and interaction between clay layers and host polymer matrix three major methods have benn employed to prepare a nanocomposite namely melt intercalation solution blending and in situ polymerization. in situ polymerizaiton which consists of polymerization of monomer in the presence of clay layers is one of the most powerful methods of nanocomposite preparation . in this study atom transfer radical piolymerization has been employed to synthesize an exfoliated polystyrene nanocomposite.