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“Grafting through” approach for synthesis of polystyrene/silica aerogel nanocomposites by in situ reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

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Abstract

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 “grafting through” 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 (Ð) 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, P.O. Box 15875-4413, Tehran, Iran

    Masoud Sobani, Vahid Haddadi-Asl, Hossein Roghani-Mamaqani & Seyed-Ataollah Mirshafiei-Langari

  2. Department of Polymer Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, P.O. Box 51335-1996, Tabriz, Iran

    Mehdi Salami-Kalajahi

  3. Institute of Polymeric Materials, Sahand University of Technology, P.O. Box 51335-1996, Tabriz, Iran

    Mehdi Salami-Kalajahi

  4. School of Chemistry, University College of Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran

    Khezrollah Khezri

Authors
  1. Masoud Sobani
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  2. Vahid Haddadi-Asl
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  3. Mehdi Salami-Kalajahi
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  4. Hossein Roghani-Mamaqani
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  5. Seyed-Ataollah Mirshafiei-Langari
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  6. Khezrollah Khezri
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Correspondence to Vahid Haddadi-Asl.

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Sobani, M., Haddadi-Asl, V., Salami-Kalajahi, M. et al. “Grafting through” approach for synthesis of polystyrene/silica aerogel nanocomposites by in situ reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 66, 337–344 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-013-3015-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-013-3015-8

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