| abstract |
Intercalates formed by contacting anlayered material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with annintercalant monomer including an alkyl radicalnhaving at least 10 carbon atoms to sorb ornintercalate the intercalant monomer between adjacentnplatelets of the layered material. Sufficientnintercalant monomer is sorbed between adjacentnplatelets to expand the adjacent platelets to anspacing of at least about 5 Å (as measured afternwater removal to a maximum of 5% by weight water),nup to about 100 Å and preferably in the range ofnabout 10-45 Å, so that the intercalate easily can benexfoliated into individual platelets. Thenintercalated complex can be combined with an organicnliquid into a viscous carrier material, for deliverynof the carrier material, or for delivery of annactive compound; or the intercalated complex can bencombined with a matrix polymer to form a strong,nfilled polymer matrix. |