Summary: The polylactide‐based nano‐composites were prepared via melt extrusion method using different types of intercalants and nano‐fillers having different surface charge density. In order to understand the direct polymer melt intercalation into the nano‐galleries, the interdigitated layer structure of the organically modified layered filler (OMLF), where the intercalants are oriented with some inclination to the host layer in the interlayer space, was proposed. After polymer melt intercalation, the smaller initial interlayer opening led to the larger interlayer expansion, suggesting the large amount of the intercalation of the polymer chains. Consequently, the nano‐composite exhibited finer dispersion of the nano‐fillers when compared with the nano‐composites prepared from OMLFs with larger initial interlayer opening.
Illustration of a model of interlayer structure of the qC14(OH) in gallery space of HTO.
