INTERCALATES AND EXFOLIATES FORMED WITH FUNCTIONAL MONOMERIC ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; COMPOSITE MATERIALS CONTAINING SAME AND METHODS OF MODIFYING RHEOLOGY THEREWITH

摘要

Intercalates formed by contacting alayered material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with anintercalant monomer having a functionality selectedfrom the group consisting of a hydroxyl; apolylhydroxyl; an aromatic ring; a carbonyl; acarboxylic acid; a polycarboxylic acid; an aldehyde;a ketone; an amine; an amide; an ether; an ester;and mixtures thereof, to sorb or intercalate theintercalant monomer between adjacent platelets ofthe layered material. Sufficient intercalantmonomer is sorbed between adjacent platelets toexpand the adjacent platelets to a spacing of atleast about 5 .ANG. (as measured after water removal toa maximum of 5% by weight water), up to about 100 .ANG.and preferably in the range of about 10-45 .ANG., sothat the intercalate easily can be exfoliated intoindividual platelets. The intercalated complex canbe combined with an organic liquid into a viscouscarrier material, for delivery of the carriermaterial, or for delivery of an active compound;or the intercalated complex can be combined witha matrix polymer to form a strong, filled polymermatrix.