Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/clay nanocomposites via click chemistry

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/clay nanocomposites were prepared by copper(I) catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction. In this method, ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone using propargyl alcohol as the initiator has been performed to produce alkyne-functionalized PCL and the obtained polymers were subsequently attached to azide-modified clay layers by a CuAAC click reaction. The exfoliated polymer/clay nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscopy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.