Nanocomposite of polymeric materials with surface modified clay and silica xerogel

摘要

A grafted silica or other metal oxide xerogel is interpenetrated or impregnated by a polymer and sandwiched between layered clay plate molecules. The grafted segments on the backbone of the xerogel provide phase compatibilization between the polymer and layered clay plate molecules. The grafted xerogel is produced by a gel precursor with a coupling reactant, under specified conditions, to cause the coupling reactant to condense and react with functional, e.g., hydroxyl (from silanol) groups on the gel precursor to form grafted sol. The grafted sol is mixed under stirring with clay to exfoliate the clay plate molecules. The exfoliated clay molecules may be mixed with oligomers or blended with a polymer to form the grafted xerogel as shown in Figure 1.