Poly(etherimide)/montmorillonite nanocomposites prepared by melt intercalation: morphology, solvent resistance properties and thermal properties

Polyimide-MMT (montmorillonite) nanocomposites has been prepared by melt bl ending an organo-modified MMT with a thermoplastic poly(etherimide) (PEI) i n an internal mixer. The dispersion of the MMT layers within the PEI matrix was verified using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, revealing an exfoliation morphology. Owing to the molecular dispersion of the MMT layers and the strong interaction between PEI and MMT, the nanocomp osites exhibited a substantial increase at glass transition temperature and thermal decomposition temperature, and a dramatic decrease in solvent upta ke compared to the virgin PEI. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.