We herein report an innovative pathway for the encapsulation of Laponite platelets into polymer nanoparticles via free radical polymerization in heterogeneous aqueous medium. Hydrophobization of the Laponite platelets was performed via double functionalization of the clay basal surfaces and edges by a cationic surfactant and an organosilane, respectively. The hydrophobized platelets were then dispersed in toluene and ultrasonicated with an aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant to form clay-loaded toluene droplets. The droplets were subsequently transformed into clusters by toluene evaporation and finally encapsulated into polymer latex particles using a seeded-emulsion polymerization process. Two different copolymers were synthesized: poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate), as a model system and poly(vinylidene chloride-co-methyl acrylate), a specialty film-forming copolymer. Stable composite particles with a diameter ranging from 150 to 180 nm were obtained for both copolymers. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the Laponite clay platelets were successfully encapsulated into the polymer latex particles. The films cast from the composite suspensions of poly(vinylidene chloride-co-methyl acrylate)/clay particles showed spherical inclusions of clay tactoids dispersed within the polymer matrix.

中文翻译：

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通过粘土团簇乳液聚合将锂皂石包封到聚合物胶乳颗粒中的创新方法

我们在此报告了一种通过异质水性介质中的自由基聚合将Laponite血小板包封到聚合物纳米颗粒中的创新途径。分别通过阳离子表面活性剂和有机硅烷对粘土基表面和边缘的双重官能化，对Laponite血小板进行疏水化处理。然后将疏水化的血小板分散在甲苯中，并用阴离子表面活性剂的水溶液超声处理，以形成负载粘土的甲苯液滴。随后通过甲苯蒸发将液滴转变为团簇，最后使用种子乳液聚合工艺将其封装成聚合物胶乳颗粒。两种不同的共聚物合成的：聚（苯乙烯共-甲基丙烯酸酯），作为一个模型系统和聚（偏二氯乙烯-共-甲基丙烯酸酯），一个特殊的成膜共聚物。对于两种共聚物，获得了直径范围为150至180nm的稳定的复合颗粒。透射电子显微镜分析表明，Laponite粘土薄片已成功地包封在聚合物胶乳颗粒中。从聚复合悬浮铸膜（偏氯乙烯-共-甲基丙烯酸酯）/粘土颗粒显示分散在聚合物基质中的粘土类晶团聚体的球状夹杂物。