Pickering Morphology of Styrene-co-Butyl Acrylate / Cloisite Na+ Made by Soap Free Emulsion Polymerization

Armored styrene-co-butyl acrylate / Cloisite Na+ latex particles up to 250 nm were synthesized by soap free emulsion polymerization. Morphology of nanocomposite (particles and films) were studied by analysis such as transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, laser light scattering and low angle X-ray diffraction. The results revealed exfoliated nanoclay structure for the samples containing 6 and 8 wt % Cloisite Na+ and intercalated nanoclay structure for sample containing 10 wt % Cloisite Na+. Morphology investigation of nanocomposite films showed high effects of nanoclay loading on the Pickering structure and thereafter on the film mechanical properties, mainly due to the presence of the delaminated clay layers distributed mid-honeycomb like all within the matrix. It means that the role of nanoclay loading in this in-situ Pickering emulsion was discussed based on the nanocomposites morphology / properties relationship. Appropriate clear films were prepared showing mid-honeycomb like structure which exhibited higher performances