Fluorene‐based polyester nanocomposites via in situ interlayer polymerization

Fluorene‐based polyester nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of equivalent weights of 9,9′‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐dicarboxylic acid and 4,4′‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐diphenoxybutane (DPB‐OH) in the presence of octadecyl‐montmorillonite (C₁₈‐MMT) as an organoclay. We investigated the intercalation of the organoclay among the polymer chains, with the aim of improving the thermal properties of the polyester. It was found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay was enough to improve the polyester's thermal properties. The maximum enhancement of the thermal properties of the fluorene‐based polyester nanocomposites was observed with the dispersion of 5 wt% organoclay. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.