A one‐pot method to prepare transparent poly(methyl methacrylate)/montmorillonite nanocomposites using imidazolium‐based ionic liquids

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by a new one‐pot technique, where the hydrophilic Na‐MMT layers were decorated with hydrophobic 1‐dodecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (C12mimPF6) ionic liquid in situ during melt blending with PMMA and intercalation of polymer chains took place subsequently. The in situ modification and intercalation of Na‐MMT were confirmed using X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The combination of the compatible C12mimPF6 with PMMA and the good dispersion of MMT layers at the nanoscale rendered the resultant PMMA/MMT nanocomposites with improved optical transparency, thermal stability and mechanical properties.