Preparation and characterization of poly(hydroxyurethane) /halloysite nanocomposites via in-situ polymerization

Abstract

Naturally occurring halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with hollow nanotubular structures were used as a new type filler for polyhydroxyurethane. The polyhydroxyurethane/halloysite nanocomposites (PHU/HNTs) were prepared by the in-situ surface-initiated polymerization of a five-membered cyclic carbonate 2,2-bis[p-(1,3-dioxolan-2-one-4-yl-methoxy) phenyl] propane (B5CC) and hexa methylene diamine, from the surfaces of the aminopropyl halloysite nanotubes (APHNTs) for the first time. The percentage of grafting (PG %) and the grafting efficiency (GE %) of 41% and 23% were calculated from the results of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and from the results of elemental analysis (EA) respectively after the free polyhydroxyurethane was washed off. The chemical grafting of the polymer was also confirmed using FTIR; the morphology of the silica nanotubes in the nanocomposite was examined by transmission electron microscope (TEM).