Effect of the Degree of Ionization on the Insertion of Polyvinylpyridinium Salts into Bentonite

The present work reports the effect of the degree of α ionization of poly(4-vinylpyridinium) salts (P4VPS) on the insertion of these polymer salts into bentonite. Nanocomposite materials made of a Na-montmorillonite mineral with poly(4-vinylpyridinium) salts (P4VPS) have been synthesised and characterised. The modified samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The basic spacing of unmodified montmorillonite, determined by XRD, was measured to be 1.38 nm; it was found to increase after modification up to 1.50 nm. The insertion capacity of P4VPS into bentonite increased with the increasing degree of quaternisated nitrogen sites in the polymer.