ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Bi-hybrid coatings: polyaniline-montmorillonite filler in organic-inorganic polymer matrix

Milena Špírková, Patrycja Bober, Jiří Kotek, and Jaroslav Stejskal

Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 162 06, Prague 6, Czech Republic

E-mail: spirkova@imc.cas.cz

Abstract: A bi-hybrid composite is represented by an organic-inorganic (O-I) filler dispersed in an O-I matrix. Polyaniline-montmorillonite, as a nanocomposite filler, was synthesised by two independent processes: (1) montmorillonite was surface-modified with a conducting polymer, polyaniline, during the in-situ oxidation of aniline or (2) montmorillonite was pre-treated with aniline, then the aniline was polymerised and the polyaniline subsequently produced penetrated the montmorillonite structure. The organic-inorganic polymer matrix was formed in two independent steps: (1) inorganic building units were formed in situ by the sol-gel process, (2) followed by organic polymeric matrix formation by polyaddition reactions of epoxy groups with amines. Polyaniline-montmorillonite filler was added to the reaction system between these two steps, i.e. when the inorganic structures of the O-I matrix have already been formed but prior to formation of the organic polymeric matrix. Two different O-I matrices were prepared from functionalised organosilicon precursors and oligomeric amines. 3-[(Glycidyloxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane reacted with α,ω-oligo(propylene oxide) diamine and diethoxy[3-(glycidyloxy)propyl]-methylsilane reacted with α,ω-oligo(propylene oxide) triamine. The resulting bi-hybrid coatings, the O-I filler dispersed in the O-I matrix, were characterised by atomic-force and optical microscopies, and also by tensile tests. The filler composition affected both the mechanical and surface properties of the coatings.

Keywords: polyaniline – montmorillonite – organic-inorganic composite – hybrid coatings – microscopy – tensile properties

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-012-0299-z

Chemical Papers 67 (8) 1020–1027 (2013)