@article { ISI:000253740900005,
	title = {Synthesis and characterization of novel organo-montmorillonites},
	journal = {Applied Clay Science},
	volume = {38},
	number = {3-4},
	year = {2008},
	month = {FEB},
	pages = {203-208},
	publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV},
	type = {Article},
	address = {PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS},
	abstract = {<p>Sodium Montmorillonite (NaMMT) has been modified via cation exchange reaction using three different organic cations. Basal spacings, interlamellar structure and thermal stability of these organo-montmorillonites (OMMT) clays have been characterized using wide angle X-ray diffraction (WARD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Increase in the basal spacing due to organic modification is in good agreement with simple theoretical calculations based on van der Waals volume of the cationic ammonium ions. TGA characterization and analysis show that the amount of organic modifier in the OMMT{\textquoteright}s is in good agreement with theoretically calculated stoichiometric content expected for almost complete exchange of Na+ ions by organic cations. The OMMT{\textquoteright}s shows stepwise decomposition corresponding to initial weight loss from residual water desorption, followed by decomposition of the organic surfactant and the dehydroxylation of structural water of the montmorillonite layers. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p>},
	keywords = {Montmorillonite, organo-clays, organo-montmorillonite, surfactant},
	issn = {0169-1317},
	doi = {10.1016/j.clay.2007.05.008},
	author = {Tiwari, Rajkiran R. and Khilar, Kartic C. and Natarajan, Upendra}
}
@article {46859,
	title = {Critical organic modifier aliphatic tail length for the formation of poly(methyl methacrylate)-montmorillonite nanocomposites},
	journal = {Polymer Engineering and Science},
	volume = {60},
	year = {2020},
	month = {JUL},
	pages = {1604-1617},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>In this article, we report the influence of organic modifier structure (alkyl chain length C8-C20, single vs ditallow) and thereby, the effect of hydrophobicity on the structure, thermal and mechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-clay hybrids. Melt processed PMMA-clay hybrids were characterized using wide-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The organoclays having an alkyl chain length of more than 12 CH2 groups resulted in the formation of nanocomposites. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of PMMA increased in the presence of clay. The mean-field lattice model was used to predict the free energy for nanocomposite formation, which showed a reasonable match with the experimental results and provided a general guideline for the proper selection of polymer and organoclay (ie, organic modifier) to obtain nanocomposite. Tensile modulus showed maximum improvement of 58\% for the nanocomposites compared to 9\% improvement for the composites. Tensile modulus increased with increases in the alkyl chain length of the organic modifier and clay loading. The level of improvement for the tensile properties of nanocomposites prepared from primary and secondary ammonium-modified clay is the same as that obtained with the commercial organoclays.</p>
},
	keywords = {hybrid, mechanical properties, Montmorillonite, Nanocomposites, organoclay, poly(methyl methacrylate)},
	issn = {0032-3888},
	doi = {10.1002/pen.25405, Early Access Date = MAY 2020},
	author = {Tiwari, Rajkiran R. and Natarajan, Upendra}
}
