Synthesis of poly(arylene disulfide)-vermiculite nanocomposites via in situ ring-opening reaction of cyclic oligomers

An exfoliated poly(4,4′-oxybis(benzene)disulfide) (POBDS)/vermiculite (VMT) nanocomposite was prepared by using cyclo(4,4′-oxybis(benzene)disulfide) (COBDS) oligomers and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide exchanged VMT. The POBDS/VMT nanocomposites were fabricated in two steps. First, the COBDS oligomers were used to swell and exfoliate organo VMT to afford COBDS-VMT nanocomposite precursor. Subsequently, the exfoliated POBDS-VMT nanocomposite can be made via in situ and instant melt ring-opening polymerization of the COBDS-VMT nanocomposite precursor. High molecular weight POBDS polymer can be formed in a few minutes. The nano scale dispersion of VMT layers within POBDS polymer was confirmed by both the X-ray diffraction patterns and TEM examinations. This methodology provides a potential approach to synthesize high performance polymer nanocomposite. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.