Synthesis of a kaolinite-poly(β-alanine) intercalation compound

A kaolinite-poly(beta -alanine) intercalation compound (kaolinite/poly(beta -alanine)) was synthesized by in-situ polycondensation of preintercalated beta -alanine, which is an initial step toward the extension of the variety of host materials for polymer-clay nanocomposites. beta -Alanine was intercalated into kaolinite by a displacement method using kaolinite/ammonium acetate as the intermediate. Zwitterionic beta -alanine was ordered in a monolayer arrangement between the layers, which was confirmed by powder XRD, IR and NMR. Although beta -alanine was mostly polymerized by thermal treatment of kaolinite/beta -alanine at 250 degreesC for 10 h under an N-2 atmosphere, a part of the guest species was decomposed. Kaolinite/poly(beta -alanine) had a higher thermal stability than bulk poly( beta -alanine), as evidenced by TG-DTA.