h Hematpour - Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
v Haddadi-Asl - Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
s.s Zargarian - Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) grafted poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) were prepared by surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). Firstly HNTs was functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (APTES) from hydroxyl groups by a coupling reaction. Then alpha bromoisobutyryl bromide (BiBB) was introduced to APTES moieties in order to obtain initiator anchored halloysite (HNT-Br). Theamount of modification and effect of DMAP on the yield of acylation reaction were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Subsequently, HNT-Br was used for atom transfer radical polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Successful attachment of APTES, BiBB, and PHEMA to HNTs were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and TGA.

Halloysite nanotubes,surface modification, SI-ATRP,poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, clay minerals