Synthesis of polymer-clay nanocomposites containing benzofuran side group and investigation of thermal behaviors

Nanocomposites of new benzofuran derived polymer, poly(2-(5-bromo benzofuran-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl methacrylate), with different contents of organoclay (OVHAC) were synthesized via in situ polymerization method. The structural characterization was performed with FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques. The XRD images show that there is no characteristic clay peak in the 2-theta testing range. When 10% weight loss is selected as a comparison point, the thermal decomposition temperatures of poly(BOEMA)/organoclay nanocomposites are higher than that of pure poly(BOEMA) about 5-14 °C, in which the nanocomposite with 5 wt % of clay has the best thermal stability (268 °C). The Tg value decreases from 138 °C to 124 °C with increase in the percentage of organoclay up to 5% in poli(BOEMA). The activation energies of polymer-clay nanocomposites determined with Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method are increased from 163,31 kJ/mol to 195,28 kJ/mol by loading organoclay from %0 to %5. According to Coats-Redfern method, the actual thermal decomposition mechanisms are obeyed to deceleration type, dimensional diffusion mechanisms (Dn) when polymer-clay nanocomposites are decomposed. Key Words: Synthesis and characterization, benzofuran derived polymer/clay nanocomposites, exfoliation/intercalation, thermal degradation kinetics.