Preparation of polyacrylamide and gamma-zirconium phosphate nanocomposites by intercalative polymerization.

A new inorganic-organic nanocomposite of polyacrylamide (PAM) and gamma-zirconium phosphate (gamma-ZrP) was prepared by intercalative polymerization. Intercalation of acrylamide (AM) monomer in gamma-ZrP was investigated by sonochemical and refluxing methods. High-intensity ultrasound does not induce the polymerization of AM but enhances greatly the intercalation rate. On the other hand, ultrasound also enhanced hydrolyzation of -CONH2 and shrinkage of PAM gel. The interlayer distance of AM-intercalated gamma-ZrP is 16.4 A. The polymerization and intercalation of AM occurred nearly at the same time by refluxing method. The same gamma-ZrP/PAM nanocomposites were obtained with (NH4)2S2O8 treatment.