Elastomer monolayers adsorbed on mica surfaces by nitroxide-mediated polymerisation

We reported the first synthesis of Poly(n-butyl acrylate) by in situ nitroxide-mediated polymerisation from the surface of mica while preserving its lamellar structure. To obtain this polymer adsorbed to mica surface, a free radical initiator 2,2′-azobis(isobutyramidine hydrochloride) (AIBA) was attached by ion exchange to the surface of mica, and the resulting was used as a initiator to polymerise butyl acrylate. The kinetic studies show that the initiator adsorbed to mica surface successfully initiated the radical polymerisation of butyl acrylate. Adsorbed polymer was indeed obtained, in different amounts depending on reaction time, the XRD patterns of resulting products indicate that the polymer chains did not intercalate the aluminosilicate layers, as expected.