Amcol International Corporation

Erin K Westphal

Tie Lan

Vasiliki Psihogios

Ying Liang

Intercalated layered materials prepared by co-intercalation of a multi-charged onium ion spacing/coupling agent and a matrix polymer between the planar layers of a swellable layered material, such as a phyllosilicate, preferably a smectite clay. The spacing of adjacent layers of the layered materials is expanded at least about 3 &angst;, preferably at least about 5 &angst;, usually to about 15-20 &angst;, e.g., 18 &angst; with the di-charged onium ion spacing/coupling agent. The intercalation of the matrix polymer then increases the spacing between adjacent layers to at least about 15 &angst;, preferably to about 20 &angst; to about 30 &angst;.

LAYERED COMPOSITIONS WITH MULTI-CHARGED ONIUM IONS AS EXCHANGE CATIONS, AND THEIR APPLICATION TO PREPARE MONOMER, OLIGOMER, AND POLYMER INTERCALATES AND NANOCOMPOSITES PREPARED WITH THE LAYERED COMPOSITIONS OF THE INTERCALATES

Layered compositions with multi-charged onium ions as exchange cations, and their application to prepare monomer, oligomer, and polymer intercalates and nanocomposites prepared with the layered compositions of the intercalates

Intercalates formed by contacting a layered material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with an intercalant onium ion spacing agent and an anhydride-curable epoxy resin. The intercalant onium ion spacing agent converts the interlayer region of the layered materials from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, therefore, the anhydride-curable epoxy resin can be easily intercalated into the interlayer spacing. The co-presence of the co-intercalant anhydride-curable epoxy resin in the interlayer space provides surprising increase in glass transition temperature for anhydride-curable epoxy resin matrix polymer/co-intercalant compounded nanocomposites. The nanocomposites (e.g., epoxy-clay) prepared from the intercalants demonstrate enhanced mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance compared with pristine polymer matrices.

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Oakwood Hills, IL, United States of America

Erin K Westphal