Effects of reaction conditions on intercalation between gelatin and montmorillonite: Thermodynamical impact

Abstract

To investigate the effects of reaction conditions on a intercalation between gelatin and montmorillonite (MMT) and thermodynamical impact of the intercalation, a series of gelatin/MMT hybrids were prepared by changing the reaction conditions (weight ratio of gelatin and MMT, pH, concentration of gelatin solution and MMT suspension, and reaction temperature).The hybrids were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed the intercalation between gelatin and MMT, which was a faster process than the melt intercalation of some synthetic macromolecules such as polystyrene, achieved a thermodynamically stable state in 5 min. All the other reaction conditions, except reaction temperature, affected the intercalation between gelatin and MMT. The reaction was driven by enthalpy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.