Melt, generally intercalation

Reactions (5.5.30) and (5.5.31) proceed prevailingly during intercalation from solid or polymer electrolytes (cf. Section 2.6) or melts. When using common liquid electrolyte solutions, a co-insertion of solvent molecules (and/or intercalation of solvated ions) very often occurs. The usual products of electrochemical intercalation are therefore ternary compounds of a general composition ... 

In the case of mica-type layered silicates it has been recently demonstrated that nanocomposites (both intercalated and delaminated) can be synthesized by direct melt intercalation even with high molecular weight polymers [7-18]. This synthetic method is quite general and is broadly applicable to a range of commodity polymers from essentially non-polar polystyrene, to weakly polar polyethylene terephthalate), to strongly polar nylon. Nanocomposites can, therefore, be processed using currently available techniques such as extrusion, thus lowering the barrier towards commercialization. 

In general, reactions were carried out at temperatures near to the melting or sublimation point of the particular halide. After heating the graphite and halide together for several hours, the graphite was washed with hydrochloric acid to remove excess halide. Intercalation was rec-... 

Polymer nanocomposites are generally prepared by three methods solution intercalation, in-situ polymerisation or melt compounding. 

Moreover, the molecular weight and structure of the functional PO as well as melt viscosity and rheological properties were found responsible for the final morphology of composites. Best results are generally achieved by employing polymer with molecular weight similar to that of the matrix otherwise the miscibility between the two POs might be compromised and the intercalation/exfoliation process inhibited. 

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