Montmorillonite Organically Modified Clay Reinforcement

Jimenez et al. also investigated blends of PCL reinforced by an organically-modified montmorillonite clay, with a view to using inert inorganic structures to enhance the properties of PCL for which Tg and T are low. With the montmorillonite having a layered structure, it was hoped to intercalate the polymer from solution with the clay [173]. 

The reinforcing properties of organically modified montmorillonite clay have been studied in several other polymers, including liquid crystalline polymers [45], and the suspension of montmorillonite in aqueous media containing polyelectrolytes [46]. 

Biobased epoxy nanocomposites can be reinforced with organo montmorillonite clay and carbon fibers obtained from poly(acryl-onitrile) (45). To get the organically modified clay into the glassy biobased epoxy networks, a sonication technique was used. In this way, clay nanoplatelets were obtained that were homogeneously dispersed and completely exfoliated in the matrix. 

Clays (such as montmorillonite, laponite etc.) are usually employed as reinforcing filler to improve thermal stability as well as the stiffness and tensile strength of polymeric materials. Montmorillonite and organically modified montmoriUonites -the latter showing an increased interfacial interaction between clay and polymer macromolecules - were incorporated into different polymeric materials such as PU [54], PCL [55], and chitosan/PVA [56], The incorporated clays were well distributed, exfoliated and oriented along the fiber axis. It was reported that, during the... 

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