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Abstract
A montmorillonite modified by octadecylammonium salt (OMMT) was prepared. A polyurethane (PU)/montmorillonite nanocomposite was synthesized by in-situ polymerization using the OMMT, poly(propylene glycol), 4,4-diphenylmethylate diisocyanate, and 1,4-butanediol. The MMT platelets were dispersed in PU matrix on a 10 ∼ 50 nm scale. Compared to that of pure PU, the tensile strength and tear strength of the PU/OMMT nanocomposites increased, respectively, and the MMT platelets dispersed on a nanometer scale enhanced the PU. The temperature of initial weight loss of the PU/OMMT nanocomposites was lower than that of pure PU because of the acid catalytic action of protonated MMT platelets in the first thermodegradation step. But its temperature of initial weight loss was higher than that of pure PU because of the barrier effect of the MMT platelets in the second thermodegradation step.