Polyethylene oxide Polymer-clay nanocomposites

In the last decade, considerable progress was observed in the field of PO/compatibil-izer (predominantly on the base of PO-g-MA)/organo-surface-modified clay nanocomposites. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and ethylene-propylene (EP) rubber are one of the most widely used POs as matrix polymers in the preparation of nanocomposites [3,4,6,30-52]. The PO silicate/silica (other clay minerals, metal oxides, carbon nanotubes, or other nanoparticles) nanocomposite and nanohybrid materials, prepared using intercalation/exfoliation of functionalized polymers in situ processing and reactive extrusion systems, have attracted the interest of many academic and industrial researchers because they frequently exhibit unexpected hybrid properties synergisti-cally derived from the two components [9,12,38-43]. One of most promising composite systems are nanocomposites based on organic polymers (thermoplastics and thermosets). 

Durmus, A., Woo, M., Kasgoz, A., Macosko, C. W., and Tsapatsis, M. 2007. Intercalated linear low density polyethylene LLDPE)/clay nanocomposites prepared with oxidized polyethylene as a new type compatibilizer Structural, mechanical and barrier properties. European Polymer Journal 43 3737-3749. 

Dintcheva, N. Tz., Al-Malaika, S., and La Mantia, F. P. 2009. Effect of extrusion and photo-oxidation on polyethylene/clay nanocomposites. Polymer Degradation and Stability 94 1571-1588. 

Silicate clays as recovered from nature do not lead to the formation of nanocomposites by simply physically mixing them with a polymer. Except with few hydrophilic polymers like polyethylene oxide [49-52] or polyvinyl alcohol [53,54], which have good interaction with the inorganic, highly hydrophilic, layered silicates, the surfaces of the silicates have... 

Dintcheva, N.T., Al-Malaika, S., La Mantia, F.P. Photo-oxidation of polyethylene/clay nanocomposites. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 94, 1571-1588 (2009)... 

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