Synthesis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/clay nanocomposites using aminododecanoic acid-modified clay and a bifunctional compatibilizer

A poly(ethylene terephthalate)/clay nanocomposite (PET/clay) was prepared via in situ polymerization, in which the clay was modified with 12‐aminododecanoic acid (ADA). A compatibilizer containing an amino and an ester group was introduced into the PET/ADA‐clay system, which can attach to ADA‐clay through ionic interaction and be incorporated into PET chains through transesterification. The compatibilizer‐modified ADA‐clay was first formed in a pretreatment process and then participated in polymerization. The compatibilizer, as an intermedium between organoclay and polymer, improved clay dispersion in PET matrix. The PET/clay nanocomposite prepared by this novel method possesses significantly higher storage modulus than does neat PET. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1057–1064, 2006