Preparation, organophilicity, and self-assembly of poly(oxypropylene)amine-clay hybrids

Using poly(oxyethylene) (POE)- and poly(oxypropylene) (POP)-backboned amines, the intercalation of Na+-MMT was performed. Basal spacing to the variants of molecular weight, intercalating site multiplicity, and weight fraction of the intercalating amines including the trifunctional and difunctional amines was observed. The intercalation afforded wide spacing, which is influenced by the orientation of the incorporated organics in the silicate confinement. In the silicate confinement, the hydrophobic POP backbones can aggregate in different molecular orientations and further affect the hydrophobic/hydrophilic property.