Clay intercalates with organic mono- and bi-layers in hydrocarbon polymers

Novel nanostructures are here presented, formed by a MMT clay and ammonium salts in a hydrocarbon polymer. Clay intercalates with organic bi-layers were obtained by mixing the clay and an ammonium salt presenting two long alkyl chains using naturally occurring poly-1,4-cis-isoprene as the reaction medium, whereas mono-layer intercalates were obtained either with an ammonium salt with only one long alkyl chain or by using synthetic poly-1,4-cis-isoprene. Nanostructures are illustrated through X-ray diffractions and transmission electron microscopy. The correlation between nanostructures and physical-mechanical properties of the elastomeric composite materials is also discussed.