Direct polymer intercalation in single crystal vermiculite

A lightly brominated isobutylene bromomethylstyrene copolymer was directly intercalated into a single crystal of organically modified vermiculite. Pol ymer intercalation was monitored by X-ray diffraction, (XRD) and was confir med by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). Atomic force microscop y (AFM) images of a cleaved polymer-intercalated crystal showed raised hemi spheres on an otherwise flat background. Calculations show these hemisphere s to consist of possible chain fractions or single and multiple chains, dep ending on the reaction time.