Aluminosilicate nanohybrid materials. Intercalation of polystyrene in kaolinite

This paper reports on the intercalation of polystyrene into the interlamellar spaces of kaolinite. The intercalation was achieved by a free radical polymerization reaction of styrene in the presence of a kaolinite–DMSO intercalate as a starting material. The results of the XRD, FTIR and TGA analyses confirmed the intercalation of polystyrene in the interlamellar spaces of kaolinite. 13C CP/MAS and DD/MAS spectra indicated the almost complete displacement of DMSO by polystyrene chains and the rigidity of the latter in the interlamellar spaces. 29Si and 27Al NMR spectra of the starting materials and the products are also discussed.