Preparation of Al-MCM-41 materials and PS/Al-MCM-41 composite using supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) was used as carriers/solvent for “dry” alumination of mesoporous silica to prepare Al-MCM-41. The effect of aluminum on the structure and crystallinity of the materials was studied. Further, styrene monomer was impregnated into MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 with the assistance of SC CO2, and then was polymerized in the substrates to prepare the composite of PS/MCM-41 and PS/Al-MCM-41. The experimental results indicate crystallinity and the pore volume of the composites both decreased with the addition of PS.