Study on the solvothermal preparation of polyethylene/organophilic montmorillonite nanocomposites

Exfoliated polyethylene/organophilic montmorillonite (PE/OMT) nanocomposites were prepared based on polyethylene and organophilic montmorillonite using solvothermal methods and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of the alkyl ammonium cationic exchange fraction, ion exchange capacity of the OMT and OMT content in the nanocomposites on the formation of exfoliated nanocomposites were investigated. The organophilic montmorillonite with a low ion exchange capacity and high alkyl ammonium cationic exchange fraction could easily form an exfoliated structure in the PE/OMT nanocomposite. The intercalated nanocomposites, prepared by a solution method at atmospheric pressure, could transform into exfoliated nanocomposite after treatment by solvothermal methods.