In situ poly(sodium acrylate)‐based nanocomposite formation by redox‐initiated solution polymerization

Polymer‐based nanocomposites have been widely investigated as a potential method to modify polymer and biopolymer properties. Poly(sodium acrylate) (PNaA)/nanosilver nanocomposites with 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt% nanofiller were prepared by in situ polymerization. The free radical, redox‐initiated, aqueous solution polymerization of NaOH‐neutralized acrylic acid was conducted in the presence of nanosilver. The progress of the polymerization was monitored using gravimetric conversion measurements. The addition of 0.5 wt% nanosilver to the polymerization resulted in a significant decrease in rate of polymerization The effect on rate was noticeably reduced when the experiment was repeated with nanoclay, a nonmetallic nanofiller, in lieu of nanosilver. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1230–1236, 2015.