Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol.24, No.8, 492-495, 2003
Critical conformational change of poly(oxypropylene)diamines in layered aluminosilicate confinement
The intercalation of aluminosilicate clays proceeds via a critical conformation change. Ion exchange of the poly(oxypropylene)diamine salts allows widening of the clay layers from 12 Angstrom to 20 Angstrom and then a sharp increase to 58 Angstrom. The data indicate a critical conformation change of the intercalated amines, thus providing a new way for manipulating nanomaterials and control of polymer conformations in layered silicate confinement.