Polymer, Vol.52, No.5, 1297-1301, 2011
Unique morphology of dispersed clay particles in a polymer nanocomposite
This communication reports a unique morphology of dispersed clay particles in a polymer nanocomposite. A nanocomposite of poly[butylene succinate)-co-adipatel (PBSA) with 3 wt% of organically modified montmorillonite was prepared by melt-blending in a batch mixer. The focused-ion beam cross-sectioning at 36 degrees to the sample surface, followed by delineation etching with water revealed a unique dispersed morphology of the clay particles in PBSA nanocomposite. The scanning electron microscopy image showed a unique structure, where the vertically embedded stacked silicate layers fall down to the PBSA matrix, forming a corn-flake like structure. This unique structured was called as "nano-flake". (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.