X-ray diffraction studies and phase volume determinations in poly(ethylene glycol)-montmorillonite nanocomposites

Biqiong Chen, Julian R.G. Evans*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Poly(ethylene glycol)-montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared by both solution and melt intercalation methods with a range of polymer molecular weights and at a range of polymer loadings. Particular attention was given to the reliability of low-angle X-ray diffraction results for basal plane spacing and a sound correlation between three diffractometers was obtained (±0.005 nm). Expansion of the basal plane spacing from 1.23 nm to 1.82 nm by solution intercalation was independent of polymer molecular weight in the range 300-20 000. Furthermore, the clay expansion was independent of the method of intercalation; melt intercalation also gave d001 = 1.82 nm irrespective of polymer molecular weight. The maximum amount of polymer intercalated by clay and the maximum loading of clay that polymer can sustain were also studied for the determination of nanocomposite formulations. The confined polymer exerts a reduced effective density (670 kg m-3) in the galleries.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)807-813
Number of pages7
JournalPolymer International
Volume54
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Clay
  • Intercalated nanocomposites
  • Poly(ethylene glycol)
  • X-ray diffraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Polymers and Plastics

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