Synthesis and characterization of a terpolymer derived from styrene, methyl styrene, and polyaniline and its organoclay nanocomposite

A synthetic route for the preparation of a novel solution terpolymer derived from styrene, methyl styrene, and polyaniline (PANI) and its organoclay nanocomposite with conductive and mechanical properties is demonstrated. Soluble PANI was synthesized by the incorporation of brominated poly(styrene-co-methyl styrene) onto the emeraldine form of PANI. Styrene-co-methyl styrene copolymer was synthesized via nitroxide-mediated living radical polymerization by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy iniferter and then was brominated with N-bromosuccinimide. The solution terpolymer derived from styrene, methyl styrene, and PANI was synthesized through the N-grafting reaction of deprotonated PANI and brominated terpolymer. Nanocomposites of the terpolymer with modified montmorillonite were prepared with a solution intercalation method. The conductivity of the terpolymer was measured by the four-point probe method. The structures of the intermediate, terpolymer, and nanocomposite were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H-NMR, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The molecular weight of the terpolymer was determined by gel permeation chromatography. Their thermal behavior was examined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012