New photosensitive semi aramid/organoclay nanocomposite containing cinnamoyl groups: Synthesis and characterization

New poly(ether–amide)/layered silicate nanocomposites (PEAN) containing dibenzalacetone and cinnamoyl moieties were prepared via solution intercalation technique from poly(ether–amide) 6 and organo-MMT in a solution of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). New dicarboxylic acid 4 was synthesis from two step reactions. At first 4,4′-bis(1,4-diphenoxybutane) dialdehyde 3 was synthesized from 1,4-dibromobutane and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, then solvent free reaction using to synthesis 4,4′-bis(1,4-diphenoxybutane) diacrylic acid from dialdehyde 3 and malonic acid. Poly(ether–amide) (PEA) chains were synthesized from 4,4′-bis(1,4-diphenoxybutane)diacrylic acid 4 and 2,5-bis(4-aminobenzylidene)cyclopentanone 5 via a direct polycondensation reaction. The synthesized PEA was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The distribution of organoclay and nanostructure of the nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The thermal properties and flammability of the nanocomposites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC). In the presence of organoclay shows a good effect on improving the flame retardancy of the PEA, reflecting the decrease in heat release rate (HRR) and the total heat release (THR) of the nanocomposites, while the thermal stability of nanocomposites only changed slightly compared to the neat polymer. With the increase of the loading of organoclay, the nanocomposites showed improved flame retardancy and higher char residues.