Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of bentonite-polyacrylate sol–gel materials

A new type of material incorporating bentonite with an alkoxide, H 2 CC(CH 3 )COO(CH 2 ) 3 Si(OCH 3 ) 3 , has been prepared successfully using a sol–gel process. The structures and structural changes upon heating, of the bentonite and the sol–gel material were investigated by FTIR, XRD and DSC. Using the metal alkoxide and the corresponding clay mineral as precursors, the additive reaction followed by free radical polymerization resulted in a novel material in which polymer was attached covalently to silicate sheets of bentonite via hydroxy bonding.