Preparation of polydimethylaminoethyl methacrylate grafted attapulgite via ceric ion-induced redox polymerization

Hybrid nanocomposites consisting of polydimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) and attapulgite (ATP) were prepared by using a surface thiol-Ce (IV) redox initiation system via graft from approach. Initially, ATP was chemically modified with γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MTS) to anchor thiol groups on the surface (ATP-MTS). Subsequently, surface-initiated polymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate was performed by using ATP-MTS and cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) in aqueous nitric acid (HNO 3 ) to afford hybrid particles (ATP-g-PDMAEMA). Evidence of grafting of PDMAEMA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The crystal structure of PDMAEMA grafted ATP was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Morphology of ATP-g-PDMAEMA was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of concentration of Ce (IV), HNO 3 , and reaction temperature were examined by determining the percentage of grafting (PG). With other condition kept constant, the optimum conditions were obtained as follows: the reaction temperature was 50°C, Ce (IV) and HNO 3 concentrations were 12.5 mmol/L and 1 mol/L, respectively, when 0.2 g of ATP-MTS, 1 mL of DMAEMA, and 4 mL of aqueous solution were used. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 42762.