Structural Requirements for the Intercalation of Polyether Polyols into Sodium‐Montmorillonite: The Role of Oxyethylene Sequences

The structural requirements for the preparation of polyether polyol/Na + -montmorillonite nanocomposites, which are used in polyurethane/NaMMT nanocomposites, were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and shear viscosity behavior. Nanocomposites based on homopolyetherols: poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF), block-type copolyetherols and a SAN-grafted polymer polyol were prepared. Intercalation was observed only with oxyethylene (EO) units containing polyetherols. The amount of the intercalated polyetherol ranged from 15 to 30 wt.-%. EO-sequences of 5 F to 6 units proved to be sufficient for intercalation, which suggests a crown-ether type complexation of interlayer cations.