Synthesis, Characterization and Studies of PANI-MMT Nanocompoisites

Abstract

In this work synthesis & characteri zation of composite materials based on montmo rillonite (MMT) c lay and intrinsically conducting polyaniline (PANI) is studied. The MMT type of clay used is locally available in the region which was used after chemical act ivation. The ma in thrust of this work was to know the possibility of usage of locally availab le clay to synthesise novel nanocomposites. Synthesises of PANI and processing and treatment of this clay was carried out in the lab by the authors. PANI was successfully incorporated into MMT to form PANI-MMT nanocomposites. The resulting o r-ganic-inorganic hybrid material, PA NI- MMT has been characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Formation of PANI inside the clay tactoid has been confirmed by X-ray d iffraction studies. Infrared spectroscopy studies reveal the presence of physicochemica l interaction, probably hydrogen bonding, between clay and polyaniline. One of the ma in tec h-nological applications of conducting polymers, particula rly PANI, is in the a rea of cor rosion protection of active metals. PANI-MMT nanocomposites synthesized using the present method is generally used to protect steel surface against corr o-sion.