Interfacial Effects on the Reinforcement Properties of Polymer−Organoclay Nanocomposites

Abstract

Interfacial effects play a major role in the formation of organic polymer−smectite clay nanocomposites. As little 2 mol % Na+ cations on the exchange sites of a short-chain alkylammonium smectite clay completely inhibits exfoliation of the silicate nanolayers in an epoxy matrix.