Intercalation of methacrylamide into sodium, calcium and alkylammonium exchanged montmorillonites

Abstract

Methacrylamide was intercalated into hydrophilic and organophilic exchanged forms of montmorillonite from various solvents. The increase of the basal spacing depends on the interlayer cation and the polarity of used solvent. The largest basal spacing ( d 001=3.35 nm) was observed for the long-chain alkylammonium montmorillonite and polar organic solvents. The alkyl chain length of the alkylammonium cation is a limiting factor for the interlayer expansion. An attempt was made to polymerize intercalated monomer by gamma-ray initiation. Subsequently, an additional swelling of the silicate structure was observed. Decomposition products of intercalated material and long-chain alkylamides were identified in the acetone extract. The additional swelling seems to be related to the gamma-ray initiated reaction products in the interlayer space.