Some clay nanocomposites based on a high-temperature, high-performance polymer

The techniques of reinforcing relatively tractible polymers by means of intercalated and exfoliated clay particles are applied here to the more challenging case of a necessarily less tractible high-performance polymer. The polymer, poly(biphenyl ether triphenylphosphate), was chosen because of its earlier characterization in U.S. Air Force programs developing such composites. Conditions were found in which the polymer intercalated and exfoliated a montmorillonite clay, and the resulting nanocomposites were characterized with regard to their structures, thermal properties, and mechanical properties. As was found in previous investigations of high-performance materials, it was possible to improve a few properties, but then only at the cost of undesirable changes in other properties. In the present case, it was at least somewhat possible to increase thermal stability and to significantly increase extension moduli.