An infrared method to assess organoclay delamination and orientation in organoclay polymer nanocomposites

Assessing the degree of organoclay delamination and layer alignment is crucial to deliver consistent properties of nanocomposite materials. A simple infrared technique is discussed that permits quantitative determination of these organoclay dispersion parameters in a nanocomposite. This technique complements other existing methods to optimize process conditions to fully achieve the advantages that high purity hectorite nanoclays can bring to plastic nanocomposites. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:1031–1039, 2006.