Aluminosilicate Nanocomposite Materials. Poly(ethylene glycol)−Kaolinite Intercalates

Abstract

This paper reports the first example of the direct intercalation of an organic polymer into the interlamellar spaces of kaolinite. Poly(ethylene glycols) (PEG 3400 and PEG 1000) were intercalated into kaolinite by displacing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) from the DMSO−kaolinite intercalate (Kao−DMSO). This was done directly from the polymer melt at temperatures between 150 and 200 °C. XRD showed that the intercalated oxyethylene units were arranged in flattened monolayer arrangements, such that the interlayer expansion was 4.0 A. Infrared analysis of Kao−PEG 3400 supported the assignment of a trans conformation to at least a portion of the (O−CH2CH2−O) groups of the PEG polymer while 13C CP and DD/MAS NMR indicated that the polymer was intercalated intact and was more constrained in the interlamellar spaces of kaolinite than it was in its bulk form. TGA/DSC analysis revealed that the complete decomposition of the organic component of the oxyethylene-based organokaolinites did not occur until greater than 1000...