Poly(epsilon caprolactone)/clay nanocomposites via host–guest chemistry

• Poly(epsilon caprolactone)(PCL)/clay nanocomposites were prepared by host–guest chemistry between cyclodextrin-modified montmorillonite as host and PCL, hydrophobic polymer as guest.
• Spectroscopic and microscopic data demonstrated that mixed morphologies including intercalated layers with a non-uniform separation and exfoliated single layers isolated from any stacks were successfully attained.
• The obtained nanocomposites exhibited better thermal stabilities compared to the neat polymer, thus proving the homogenous dispersion of the nanoclays in the polymer matrix.

Cyclodextrin-modified montmorillonite (MMT-CD) has been prepared from commercial montmorillonite clay (Closite 30B) containing two hydroxyl groups by reacting succinic anhydride through esterification. Poly(epsilon caprolactone) (PCL)/clay nanocomposites are prepared by host–guest chemistry between MMT-CD as host and PCL, hydrophobic polymer as guest. The structures of the intermediates and final nanocomposite are investigated in detail by FT-IR XRD, TEM, DSC and TGA measurements. The intercalated/exfoliated morphologies are determined by combined XRD and TEM analyses. Thermal stabilities of all nanocomposites are improved by the addition of MMT-CD compared to the neat polymer. The DSC data confirm that the crystallinity of PCL is slightly increased by increasing clay loading.

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