Preparation of poly(methacrylic acid-ethanolamine modified maleic anhydride)/montmorillonite nano-composite using initiator-montmorillonite hybrid

2,2'-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride-montmorillonite (AIBA-MMT) hybrid was prepared by cationic exchange between the Na+ ion in the MMT galleries and the quaternary ammonium of the azo-initiator. Then the methacrylic acid-ethanolamine modified maleic anhydride copolymer/montmorillonite [P(MAA-EMA)/MMT] nano-composite was prepared via in-situ polymerization method using above AIBA-MMT hybrid. The structures of AIBA-MMT hybrid and P(MAA-EMA)/MMT nano-composite were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The interlayer d-spacing of AIBA-MMT was 1.50 nm. The amount of the initiator intercalated into the clay galleries was 0.508g/gMMT. The P(MAA-EMA)/MMT nano-composite was categorized as exfoliated and intercalated one. The application results of P(MAA-EMA)/MMT nano-composite for leather tanning indicated that nano-composite can improve the wet-heat resistance temperature of collagen and facilitate the absorption of chromate.