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.