Amcol International Corporation

Amcol Internatioanl Corporation

Gary W Beal

Tie Lan

Semeon J Tsipursky

Ying Liang

Intercalates formed by contacting a layered material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with an intercalant surface modifier selected from the group consisting of a compound having an alkyl radical containing at least 6 carbon atoms, a compound containing an aromatic ring, and mixtures thereof, said surface modifier including a matrix material-reactive functional group, to sorb or intercalate the intercalant surface modifier between adjacent platelets of the layered material. Sufficient intercalant surface modifier is sorbed between adjacent platelets to expand the adjacent platelets to at least about 10 &angst;, up to about 100 &angst;. The intercalated complex can be combined with an organic liquid into a viscous carrier material, for delivery of the carrier material, or for delivery of an active compound; or the intercalated complex can be combined with a matrix polymer to form a strong, filled polymer matrix.

Intercalates and exfoliates formed with long chain (C6&plus;) or aromatic matrix polymer-compatible monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric intercalant compounds, and composite materials containing same

Intercalates formed by contacting a layered material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with an intercalant surface modifier selected from the group consisting of a compound having an alkyl radical containing at least 6 carbon atoms, a compound containing an aromatic ring, and mixtures thereof, said surface modifier including a matrix material-reactive functional group, to sorb or intercalate the intercalant surface modifier between adjacent platelets of the layered material. Sufficient intercalant surface modifier is sorbed between adjacent platelets to expand the adjacent platelets to at least about 10 .ANG., up to about 100 .ANG.. The intercalated complex can be combined with an organic liquid into a viscous carrier material, for delivery of the carrier material, or for delivery of an active compound; or the intercalated complex can be combined with a matrix polymer to form a strong, filled polymer matrix.

Intercalates and exfoliates formed with long chain (C6+) or aromatic

The present invention discloses intercalates formed by contacting a layered material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with an intercalant monomer surface modifier including an alkyl radical having at least 6 carbon atoms and a polymerizable monomer, oligomer or polymer. The intercalant monomer surface modifier converts the interlayer region of the layered materials from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, therefore, polymerizable monomers, oligomers or polymers can be easily intercalated into the interlayer spacing. The co-presence of the intercalant monomer surface modifier and polymerizable monomer, oligomer or polymer provide an environment for more polymerizable monomers, oligomers or polymers to be intercalated into the interlayer spacing and the intercalates are readily exfoliated into polymer matrices to form nanocomposites. The nanocomposites (e.g., epoxy-clay) prepared from the intercalates demonstrated enhanced mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance compared with pristine polymer matrices.

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McHenry, IL, United States of America

Gary W Beal