Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. 1. A study of poly(ethylene oxide)/Na+-montmorillonite nanocomposites as polyelectrolytes and polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer/Na+-montmorillonite nanocomposites as fillers for reinforcement of polyethylene

Poly(ethylene oxide) PEO/Na--montmorillonite and polyethylene-poly(ethylene glycol) (PE-PEG) diblock copolymer/Na+-montmorillonite nanocomposites have been prepared by melt intercalation method. The effect of thermal treatmen t on the amount of PEO and PE-PEG diblock copolymer intercalated into layer s of Na+-montmorillonite and on ionic conductivity of PEO/Na+-MMT nanocompo sites have been evaluated. It was found that PEO can be intercalated into t he layers of Na+-MMT by simple mechanical blending and part of PE in PE-PEG diblock copolymers was also intercalated into the layers of Na--MMT. The i ntercalated amount increases with thermal treatment time, which improves th e ionic conductivity of the PEO/Na-divided by-MMT nanocomposites. PE-PEG di block copolymer/Na+-MMT hybrids can be considered as a new kind of fillers for the reinforcement of polyethylene. By only adding a small amount (1 - 1 5% by weight) of these fillers, tensile strength of polyethylene was improv ed significantly. This research provides valuable information for the devel opment of new kinds of fillers for polymer reinforcement, and polyelectroly tes. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.