Nanocomposite materials based on polyurethane intercalated into montmorillonite clay

Polyurethane organoclay nanocomposites have been synthesized via in situ polymerization method. The organoclay has been prepared by intercalation of diethanolamine or triethanolamine into montmorillonite clay (MMT) through ion exchange process. The syntheses of polyurethane–organoclay hybrids were carried out by swelling the organoclay into different kinds of diols followed by addition of diisocyanate. The nanocomposites with dispersed structure of MMT was obtained as evidence by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results shows broaden with low intense and shift of the peak characteristic to d0 0 1 spacing to smaller 2θ and the MMT is dispersed homogeneously in the polymer matrix. Also, the TGA showed that the nanocomposites have higher decomposition temperature in comparison with the pristine polyurethane.