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Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan

  MSE / Research / Projects / Nanocomposites of Montmorillonite Clays

Nanocomposites of Montmorillonite Clays
Materials: Nanomaterials Ceramics Organic Composites
Application: Nanotechnology Structural
Technique: Processing Characterization

Unique methods will be applied to forming clay nanocomposites. As opposed to carbon nanotubes, clays exist in nature and are readily available. Physically, a clay particle is a platelet about 2 nm thick and 200 nm in breadth. Clay particles have strong attractions to other clay particles and form aggregrates which are stacks of these basic nanounits.

While standard composites of clays involve the aggregrated particles (which are microns in size), to form nanocomposites requires separating the aggregrates into the basic nanounits as well as keeping them dispersed into some matrix. Exfoliation is the process of separating the plates completely while intercalation places another material into the gallery between the platelets. We are first exploring methods of exfoliation and using dielectric, FTIR, and x-ray spectroscopy to determine the state of the clays in the nanocomposties. The second will be the dispersing of the platelets into some matrix.
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