Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. 1. A study of poly(ethylene oxide)/Na +-montmorillonite nanocomposites as polyelectrolytes and polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer/Na +-montmorillonite nanocomposites as fillers for reinforcement of polyethylene

Abstract

Poly(ethylene oxide) PEO/Na +-montmorillonite and polyethylene–poly(ethylene glycol) (PE–PEG) diblock copolymer/Na +-montmorillonite nanocomposites have been prepared by melt intercalation method. The effect of thermal treatment on the amount of PEO and PE–PEG diblock copolymer intercalated into layers of Na +-montmorillonite and on ionic conductivity of PEO/Na +-MMT nanocomposites have been evaluated. It was found that PEO can be intercalated into the layers of Na +-MMT by simple mechanical blending and part of PE in PE–PEG diblock copolymers was also intercalated into the layers of Na +-MMT. The intercalated amount increases with thermal treatment time, which improves the ionic conductivity of the PEO/Na +-MMT nanocomposites. PE–PEG diblock copolymer/Na +-MMT hybrids can be considered as a new kind of fillers for the reinforcement of polyethylene. By only adding a small amount (1–15% by weight) of these fillers, tensile strength of polyethylene was improved significantly. This research provides valuable information for the development of new kinds of fillers for polymer reinforcement, and polyelectrolytes.