An Acid Exchanged Montmorillonite Clay-Catalyzed Synthesis of Polyepichlorhydrin

• Main Authors: Ahmed Yahiaoui, Mohammed Belbachir, Aïcha Hachemaoui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2003-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: Maghnite; Montmorillonite; Catalyst; Epichlorhydrin; Epoxides; Polyepichlorhydrin; Ring Opening Polymerization
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/4/10/548/

“Maghniteâ€Â, a montmorillonite sheet silicate clay, exchanged with protons to produce “H-Maghnite†is an efficient catalyst for cationic polymerisation of many heterocyclic and vinylic monomers (Belbachir, M. U.S. Patent. 066969.0101 –2001). The structural compositions of both “Maghnite†and “H-Maghnite†have already been determined. Epichlorhydrin monomer, which is polymerizable by a cationic process (Odian,G. La Polymerisation: Principes et Applications; Ed.Technica: New York, 1994; pp 222-226), was used to elucidate the polymerization cationic character. The polymerization was performed under optimum conditions at 20°C. Experiments revealed that the polymerisation induced by “H-Maghnite†proceeds in bulk. In bulk polymerization, Epichlorhydrin conversion increases with increasing “H-Maghnite†concentration and temperature.