Polymer/MMT nano-composite coatings formed by colloidal packing and their properties

MMT emulsion after sonication was blended with polymer latex. Polymer/MMT nano-composite coating was formed by simply evaporating water, just like the case of conventional emulsion coating. Polymer/MMT nano-structured film could be formed by this colloidal packing method. Tensile strength and modulus of the films dramatically increased with increasing of MMT content up to 10% (mass). Polar functional groups introduced on the surface of the polymer particles were found to enhance tensile strength. These polar functional groups also played a key role in controlling the morphology of nano-structured films, leading to the dependence of modulus of the films on the types of functional groups.