Simple "kink" model of melt intercalation in polymer-clay nanocomposites

We propose a simple semiphenomenological model to describe the dynamics of polymer melt intercalation in the gallery between the adjacent clay sheets in polymer-clay nanocomposites. Within this model, the intercalation proces s is driven by the motion of localized excitations ("kinks") which open up the tip between the clay sheets. These kinks belong to a novel type of soli tonlike excitations that appear due to the interplay between the double-wel l potential of the clay-clay long-range interaction, bending elasticity of the sheets, and external shear force. We find that the kink solutions can e xist only if applied shear is sufficiently strong, in a qualitative agreeme nt with experimental data.