The characterization of organic modified clay and clay-filled PMMA nanocomposite

Recently, polymer-clay hybrid materials have received considerable attention from both a fundamental research and application point of view.(1-3) This organic-inorganic hybrid, which contains a nanoscale dispersion of the layered silicates, is a material with greatly improved physical and mechanical characteristics. These nanocomposites are synthesized through in situ polymerization or direct intercalation of the organically modified layered silicate (OLS) into the polymer matrix. Thus, understanding the relationship between the molecular structure and the thermal stability (decomposition temperature, rate, and the degradation products) of the OLS is critical. In this study, modern thermal analysis techniques combined with infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (TGA-FTIR-MS) were used to obtain information on the thermal stability and degradation products of organic modified clay. Furthermore, the thermal and mechanical properties of clay-filled PMMA nanocomposites were determined by using TGA and DSC. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.