Polymerization of sulfopropyl methacrylate, a surface active monomer, within layered double hydroxide

Hybrid organic−inorganic phases composed of a surface active monomer, sulfopropyl methacrylate (SPMA), incorporated within the lamellar structure of layered double hydroxides (LDH) of cation composition ZnnAl, n = 2, 3 are obtained by the coprecipitation method. Monomer intercalation and its subsequent polymerization are characterized by means of FTIR and 13C CP-MAS NMR spectroscopies. Complementary information was gathered from a thermal study of the potassium salt of SPMA. In-situ X-ray diffraction over a range of temperature performed on the hybrid phase Zn2Al/SPMA shows clearly that the polymerization process is found first to slightly contract and then to disagglomerate the lamellar structure, while the integrity of the layers is maintained, giving rise to well-dispersed particles.