Novel acrylate polymer nanocomposites with nano CdS

Abstract

Homopolymer of 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenylacrylate (CDMPA) and p-chlorophenylmethacrylate (PCPMA) and their copolymers with different compositions are synthesized by free radical polymerization technique using 2,2-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile as initiator in N,N-dimethylformamide as solvent at 70 °C. Their polymeric nanocomposites with nano CdS have then been synthesized by in-situ technique. Characterisation of the monomers, polymers and their polymeric nanocomposites with nano CdS have been done by spectroscopic methods. X-ray diffraction studies show cubic structured nanocrystalline CdS with 2.41-3.16 nm diameter. Compositions of the copolymers are determined by ¹H-NMR. Linear methods, namely, Finemann-Ross, inverted Finemann-Ross, Kelen-Tudos and extended Kelen-Tudos have been used for the determination of reactivity ratio of the monomers. Thermal analyses of the virgin polymers and their polymeric nanocomposites with nano CdS have been carried out by thermogravimetric studies. The kinetic parameters of virgin polymers and polymeric nanocomposites with nano CdS are determined by Broido method and Coats-Redfern method. Antimicrobial screening of homo and copolymers and one of the polymer nanocomposite with nano CdS has been studied against different microorganisms.