The Role of SDS Surfactant in the Synthesis of Polymer Hybrid Latex Poly-(St-co-BA-co-MMA) with OMMT as Filler via Mini-Emulsion Polymerization

Polymer hybrid latex poly-(St-co-BA-co-MMA) with organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) as a filler were synthesized through a mini-emulsion polymerization technique. To change the nature hydrophilic to organophilic of montmorillonite (MMT), surface modification with cationic surfactant alkylammonium MTAB, CTAB, and OTAB were done through ion exchange process. The results were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Interlayer layer spacing of OMMT was extended from 1.21 nm to 2.03 nm, and 2θ decreased from 7.2° to 4.2° resulting in pseudotrilyer structure, FTIR confirmed the XRD results where the amine group from cationic surfactant inserting into MMT interlayer and the surface wettability of MMT changes from hydrophilicity to organophilicity. Mini-emulsion polymerization with 4.0 wt% level of OMMT addition showed the role of SDS surfactant in the mini-emulsion polymerization technique with variation in particle size distributions of hybrid latex, surface tension, and monomer conversion rate. Water-soluble surfactant SDS with the added level from 2.0 to 4.0 wt% contributed to monomer conversion rate (> 99%) with a particle size diameter 80 to 102 nm.