Abstract

Methacrylic acid-co-modified maleic anhydride/montmorillonite (MAA-co-modified MA/MMT) nanocomposite was prepared via the free radical copolymerization of methacrylic acid and maleic anhydride in the presence of montmorillonite, in which maleic anhydride and montmorillonite were modified respectively by ethanolamine and the initiator (potassium persulfate). The influence of maleic anhydride modifier, the mass ratio of MAA to MA and modified MMT contents on the application properties of nanocomposite was investigated. The wet-heat resistance stability and the fullness of leather tanned by nanocomposite were improved with the increase of hydroxyl group of ethanolamine. The introduction of modified MA and modified MMT resulted in increase and then decrease of the wet-heat resistance stability and the fullness of leather. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) confirmed MAA-co-modified MA/MMT nanocomposite is categorized as exfoliated and intercalated one.