Thermal, rheological, and barrier properties of waterborne acrylic nanocomposite coatings based on boehmite or organo-modified montmorillonite

An organo-modified montmorillonite (Cloisite®30B) or an unmodified boehmite (Disperal®40) have been added to two acrylic latex dispersions (one of them UV-curable) for obtaining nanocomposite coatings. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show a high degree of exfoliation in the nanocoatings based on montmorillonite, together with the deagglomeration of the micrometer-sized boehmite powder and the presence of single boehmite crystallites within the polymer matrix. Such morphologies are found to enhance the thermal and thermo-oxidative stability of the latexes and to significantly decrease their oxygen permeability, as well.