Preparation of a Kaolinite–Nylon 6 Intercalation Compound

A kaolinite–nylon 6 intercalation compound was prepared by the polymerization of 6-aminohexanoic acid (AHA) in the interlayer space of kaolinite. The intercalation of AHA was achieved by a guest displacement reaction using a kaolinite–methanol intercalation compound as an intermediate. After AHA dissolved in a mixed solvent of methanol and water (1 : 3) was added to a kaolinite–methanol intercalation compound, the mixture was stirred for 3 h. The basal spacing of the product increased to 1.23 nm, indicating the intercalation of AHA molecules with a monolayer arrangement between the layers of kaolinite. AHA was polymerized by a heat treatment at 250 °C for 1 h under a nitrogen flow. Although the basal spacing of the heat-treated product slightly decreased to 1.16 nm, the spacing was larger than those of kaolinite and the kaolinite–methanol intermediate. The formation of a kaolinite-nylon 6 intercalation compound was confirmed by the appearance of IR bands due to amide I (1637 cm−1) and amide II (1550 cm−1).