Fabrication of Water-Resistant Nacre-like Polymer/Clay Nanocomposites via in Situ Polymerization

Fabrication and characterization of water-resistant nacre-like polymer/clay nanocomposites, in which clay platelets and hydrophobic polymer chains are alternately stacked in parallel, are reported. Hydrophilic clay was converted by an ion-exchange reaction with a methacrylate monomer having a long alkyl chain and a quaternary ammonium salt group at the end. The subsequent in situ polymerization bound the neighboring clay surfaces, leading to the preferential orientation of the clay platelets owing to their high aspect ratio. The composites maintained excellent mechanical properties even after being immersed in water for more than a day. Strong shape stability was observed in water as well as in various organic solvents.