The key difference between intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites is that intercalated nanocomposites are nanocomposite materials that can weaken Van der Waals force with the expansion of the interlayer spacing, whereas exfoliated nanocomposites are nanocomposite materials that can breakdown Van der Waals forces between the adjacent layers by exerting certain external strengths.
Nanocomposite materials have a solid structure where the distance between the phases is leastwise formed of a dimension with a nanoscale size and general form of an inorganic matrix set in the organic phase or vice versa from an organic matrix in the inorganic phase.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Intercalated Nanocomposites
3. What are Exfoliated Nanocomposites
4. Intercalated vs Exfoliated Nanocomposites in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Intercalated vs Exfoliated Nanocomposites
What are Intercalated Nanocomposites?
Intercalated nanocomposites are materials in which the polymer is intercalated between the inorganic layers, producing a nanocomposite containing polymeric chains and alternating inorganic layers. Generally, this intercalation of the polymer can cause an increased interlayer spacing, such as a large distance between two adjacent inorganic layers.
There are different ways to prepare intercalated nanocomposites, including in situ intercalative polymerizations. The layered compound undergoes swelling in a solution consisting of the monomer. Then the polymer forms in the interlayer region. Thereafter, the polymerization reaction can be performed via heat or radiation treatment with the use of an organic initiator or a fixed catalyst.
What are Exfoliated Nanocomposites?
Exfoliated nanocomposites are idealized exfoliated structures containing individual nanometer-scale layers that are suspended in a polymer matrix. This material is a result of extensive penetration of the polymer and delamination of the layer structure. The exfoliated nanocomposites present no ordering along the stacking axis of the layer, or the spacing between the inorganic layers is greater than 8 nm.
There can be different ways of producing these nanocomposite materials, such as the exfoliation adoption, where the layered compound is exfoliated with the use of a solvent having a soluble polymer. Sometimes, in layered compounds, there are weak interaction forces between the layers. Therefore, these can be easily exfoliated in appropriate solvents. Then the polymer can get absorbed onto the exfoliated layers. After the evaporation of the solvent, the layers can be stacked again. This makes the polymer to be intercalated and prepares an ordered multilayer structure.
What is the Difference Between Intercalated and Exfoliated Nanocomposites?
There are different types of nanocomposite materials. Intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites are two types that are categorized according to the preparation procedure. Intercalated nanocomposites are materials in which the polymer is intercalated between the inorganic layers, producing a nanocomposite containing polymeric chains and alternating inorganic layers. Exfoliated nanocomposites are idealized exfoliated structures containing individual nanometer-scale layers that are suspended in a polymer matrix.
The key difference between intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites is that intercalated nanocomposites are nanocomposite materials that can weaken Van der Waals force with the expansion of the interlayer spacing, whereas exfoliated nanocomposites are nanocomposite materials that can breakdown Van der Waals forces between the adjacent layers by exerting certain external strengths.
The below infographic presents the differences between intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Intercalated vs Exfoliated Nanocomposites
The key difference between intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites is that intercalated nanocomposites are nanocomposite materials that can weaken Van der Waals force with the expansion of the interlayer spacing, whereas exfoliated nanocomposites are nanocomposite materials that can breakdown Van der Waals forces between the adjacent layers by exerting certain external strengths.
Reference:
1. Tronto, Jairo, et al. “Conducting Polymers / Layered Double Hydroxides Intercalated Nanocomposites.” IntechOpen, IntechOpen, 10 June 2013.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Morphology of polymer-clay aggregates” By Priscila Anadao – Intechopen (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia