Significant decreased dielectric constant and loss of polystyrene–clay nanocomposite materials by using long‐chain intercalation agent

Polystyrene–clay nanocomposite (PsCN) materials have been prepared by a free radical polymerization process. Montmorillonite (MMT), modified by two different organics, was investigated: one contains a short chain and three benzyl groups on the ammonium ion (DAETPB), while the other contains a long chain (HTAC). The organic modification determines the extent of exfoliation or intercalation of the materials. Exfoliation is more likely to occur using HTAC, as then the gallery of clay has been opened more due to the long chain structure. Exfoliation of MMT in polystyrene (PS) matrix was revealed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to confirm the increased thermal stability of these PsCN materials. Dielectric properties of polystyrene‐clay nanocomposites, in the form of film with clay loading from 1.0 to 5.0 wt %, were measured under frequencies of 100 Hz～1 MHz at 25～70°C. Decreased dielectric constant and low dielectric loss were observed for PsCN materials. Especially, the decrease of dielectric constant was found to be related to the extent of exfoliation of clay. It is recognized that the confinement effect of clay results in the suppression of the dielectric response of the nanocomposite materials at low frequency. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2402–2410, 2004     

Influence of clay content on the melting behavior and crystal structure of nonisothermal crystallized poly(L‐lactic acid)/nanocomposites

To study the effect of organophilic clay concentration on nonisothermal crystallization, poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by mixing various amounts of commercial MMT (Cloisite^® 30B) and PLLA. The effect of MMT content on melting behavior and crystal structure of nonisothermal crystallized PLLA/MMT nanocomposites was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The study was focused on the effect of the filler concentration on thermal and structural properties of the nonisothermally crystallized nanocomposite PLLA/MMT. The results obtained have shown that at filler loadings higher than 3 wt %, intercalation of the clay is observed. At lower clay concentrations (1–3 wt %), exfoliation predominates. DSC and XRD analysis data show that the crystallinity of PLLA/MMT composites increases drastically at high clay loadings (5–9 wt %). In these nanocomposites, PLLA crystallizes nonisothermally in an orthorhombic crystal structure, assigned to the α form of PLLA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Preparation and characterization of polystyrene–clay nanocomposites by free‐radical polymerization

The polymerizable cationic surfactant, vinylbenzyldimethylethanolammouium chloride (VBDEAC), was synthesized to functionalize montmorillonite (MMT) clay and used to prepare exfoliated polystyrene–clay nanocomposites. The organophilic MMT was prepared by Na⁺ exchanged montmorillonite and ammonium cations of the VBDEAC in an aqueous medium. Polystyrene–clay nanocomposites were prepared by free‐radical polymerization of the styrene containing intercalated organophilic MMT. Dispersion of the intercalated montmorillonite in the polystyrene matrix determined by X‐ray diffraction reveals that the basal spacing is higher than 17.6 nm. These nanocomposites were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron micrograph (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical properties. The exfoliated nanocomposites have higher thermal stability and better mechanical properties than the pure polystyrene. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1370–1377, 2002     

Synthesis and dielectric properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)–clay nanocomposite materials

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials were synthesized through in situ intercalative polymerization. A cationic surfactant, [2(dimethylamino)ethyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide, was used as an intercalating agent with pristine Na⁺‐montmorillonite (MMT). The synthesized PCN materials were subsequently investigated by a series of characterization techniques, including wide‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Compared to pure PMMA, the PCN materials exhibit higher thermal degradation temperatures and glass‐transition temperatures. The dielectric properties of PCN blending with a commercial PMMA material in film form with clay loading from 0.5 to 5.0 wt % were measured under frequencies of 100 Hz–1 MHz at 35–100°C. Significantly depressed dielectric constants and losses were observed for these PCN‐blending materials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2175–2181, 2005     

Mechanical properties of polystyrene‐montmorillonite nanocomposites—Prepared by melt intercalation

A series of polymer‐clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials, consisting of thermoplastic polystyrene (PS) sample and dispersing inorganic organoclay platelets, were successfully prepared. First, organoclay was prepared by performing cationic exchange reactions between the sodium ions existing in the interlayer region of the clay mineral and intercalation agent, followed by dispersing the organophilic clay into a PS basis through the melt intercalation approach performed by a twin‐screw mixing method. The as‐prepared PCN materials in the form of a pellet subsequently characterized using the powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this study, it is found that the wear resistance of PS to be effectively enhanced by the incorporation of low loading organophilic clay platelets. The surface morphological image for the neat PS and PS‐clay after a wear resistance test has also been compared and identified by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the effect of organoclay on three other different measurement types of mechanical properties for as‐prepared PCN materials, e.g., flexural tests, impact tests, and micron‐nano indenter tests were performed and compared. Generally, PCN materials exhibited an obvious enhancement of mechanical properties of neat polymer by an incorporated low loading of organophilic clay platelets into a polystyrene matrix used for the evaluation of mechanical properties as‐prepared samples. For example, mechanical strength (excepting flexural strength) almost remain same beyond 3 wt % clay loading in PS, whereas much detrimental effect being observed in the wear loss in case of PCNs with 5 wt % clay than 3 wt %. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Effect of clay on the properties of poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile)–clay nanocomposites

Clay‐dispersed poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) nanocomposites (PSAN) were synthesized by a free radical polymerization process. The montmorillonite (MMT) was modified by a cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. The structures of PSAN were determined by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy. The dispersion of silicate layers in the polymer matrix was also revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was confirmed that the clay was intercalated and exfoliated in the PSAN matrix. The increased thermal stability of PSAN with the addition of clay was observed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The dielectric properties of PSAN were measured in the frequency range 100 Hz to 1 MHz at 35–70°C. It was found that the dielectric constant from the dipole orientation had been suppressed due to the intercalation of clay. The dielectric loss is strongly related to the residual sodium content of clay, which increases as the sodium content increases by the addition of clay. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and properties of polystyrene–clay nanocomposites via in situ intercalative polymerization

Organophilic montmorillonite (MMT) was prepared by ion exchange between Na⁺ ions in the clay and twin benzyldimethyloctadecylammonium bromine cations in an aqueous medium. The organophilic MMT particles were easily dispersed and swollen in styrene monomer. Polystyrene–MMT nanocomposites were prepared by the free‐radical polymerization of styrene containing dispersed clay. The intercalation spacing in the nanocomposites and the degree of dispersion of these composites were investigated with X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The nanocomposites had higher weight‐average molecular weights, lower glass‐transition temperatures, and better thermal stability (the decomposition temperature was improved by ca. 70°C) than the virgin polystyrene. The rheological behavior of the polystyrene–MMT nanocomposites was also studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 201–207, 2005     

Poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites with different clays: Pristine clays and organoclays

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized using the solution intercalation method. Na ion‐exchanged clays [Na⁺–saponite (SPT) and Na⁺–montmorillonite (MMT)] and alkyl ammonium ion‐exchanged clays (C₁₂–MMT and C₁₂OOH–MMT) were used for the PVA nanocomposites. From the morphological studies, the Na ion‐exchanged clay is more easily dispersed in a PVA matrix than is the alkyl ammonium ion‐exchanged clay. Attempts were also made to improve both the thermal stabilities and the tensile properties of PVA/clay nanocomposite films, and it was found that the addition of only a small amount of clay was sufficient for that purpose. Both the ultimate tensile strength and the initial modulus for the nanocomposites increased gradually with clay loading up to 8 wt %. In C₁₂OOH–MMT, the maximum enhancement of the ultimate tensile strength and the initial modulus for the nanocomposites was observed for blends containing 6 wt % organoclay. Na ion‐exchanged clays have higher tensile strengths than those of organic alkyl‐exchanged clays in PVA nanocomposites films. On the other hand, organic alkyl‐exchanged clays have initial moduli that are better than those of Na ion‐exchanged clays. Overall, the content of clay particles in the polymer matrix affect both the thermal stability and the tensile properties of the polymer/clay nanocomposites. However, a change in thermal stability with clay was not significant. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3208–3214, 2003     

Synthesis and evaluation of high‐performance ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer/organoclay nanoscale composites

The main objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize the properties of ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer (EPDM)/clay nanocomposites. Pristine clay, sodium montmorillonite (Na⁺–MMT), was intercalated with hexadecyl ammonium ion to form modified organoclay (16Me–MMT) and the effect of intercalation toward the change in interlayer spacing of the silicate layers was studied by X‐ray diffraction, which showed that the increase in interlayer spacing in Na⁺–MMT by 0.61 nm is attributed to the intercalation of hexadecyl ammonium ion within the clay layers. In the case of EPDM/16Me–MMT nanocomposites, the basal reflection peak was shifted toward a higher angle. However, gallery height remained more or less the same for different EPDM nanocomposites with organoclay content up to 8 wt %. The nanostructure of EPDM/clay composites was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, which established the coexistence of intercalated and exfoliated clay layers with an average layer thickness in the nanometer range within the EPDM matrix. The significant improvement in thermal stability and mechanical properties reflects the high‐performance nanocomposite formation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2429–2436, 2004     

Structural effects of type of intercalant in poly (4‐vinylpyridine) nanocomposites: compatible homopolymer or block copolymer

4‐vinylpyridine monomer was mixed with organophilic montmorillonite (MMT) clay and polymerized in the presence of free‐radical initiator. MMT clay was rendered organophilic by means of ion‐exchanging sodium cations for low‐molecular‐weight quaternized poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) homopolymer and diblock copolymers of styrene and quaternized 4‐vinylpyridine (SVP) with different sequence lengths. The swelling behaviour of the MMT clay was studied by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). After the cation exchange, the resulting organophilic clays showed an expansion of interlayer distance indicating the nanoscale ordering of intercalant polymer and MMT layers. The nanocomposite materials, when moulded, exhibited improved thermal stability and dynamic mechanical properties compared with neat P4VP. The composite, having longer ionic segments in its organophilic MMT, showed exfoliated nanocomposite structure as well as higher stiffness and damping properties at higher temperatures even for MMT loading as low as 2 wt%. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effective enhancement of anticorrosive properties of polystyrene by polystyrene–clay nanocomposite materials

A series of polymer–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials consisting of polystyrene (PS) and layered montmorillonite (MMT) clay was prepared by effectively dispersing the inorganic nanolayers of MMT clay in the organic PS matrix via in situ thermal polymerization. Organic styrene monomers were first intercalated into the interlayer regions of organophilic clay hosts, followed by a typical free radical polymerization with BPO as the initiator. The as‐synthesized PCN materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), wide‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PCN coatings with low clay loading (1 wt %) on cold‐rolled steel (CRS) were found to be superior in anticorrosion to those of bulk PS, based on a series of electrochemical measurements of corrosion potential, polarization resistance and corrosion current in a 5 wt % aqueous NaCl electrolyte. The molecular weights of PS extracted from PCN materials and bulk PS were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the eluent. The effects of material composition on molecular barrier and thermal stability of PS and PCN materials, in the form of both free‐standing films and fine powders, were also studied by molecular permeability analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1970–1976, 2004     

Polyimide nanocomposite with a hexadecylamine clay: Synthesis and characterization

A poly(amic acid) was prepared by the reaction of 3,3′‐dihydroxybenzidine and pyromellitic dianhydride in N,N‐dimethylacetamide. Hexadecylamine was used as an organophilic alkylamine in organoclay. Cast films were obtained from blend solutions of the precursor polymer and the organoclay. The cast film was heat treated at different temperatures to create polyimide (PI) hybrid films. We set out to clarify the intercalation of PI chains to hexadecylamine–montmorillonite (C₁₆–MMT) and to improve thermal and tensile properties and the gas barrier. It was found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay was enough to improve both the thermal and the mechanical properties of PIs. Maximum enhancement in the ultimate tensile strength for PI hybrids was observed for the blends containing 4% C₁₆–MMT. The initial modulus monotonically increased with further increases in C₁₆–MMT content. Water vapor permeability was decreased with increasing clay loading from 1 to 8 wt %. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2294–2301, 2002     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)/montmorillonite nanocomposites by in situ bulk polymerization

Poly(methyl methacrylate)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ bulk polymerization. The results showed that the silicone coupling agent affected the structure and properties of hybrid materials. XRD analysis showed that the dispersion of clay in nanocomposites with silicone‐modified organophilic MMT was more ordered than that in nanocomposites with unmodified organophilic MMT. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the nanocomposites was 6–15°C higher and the thermal decomposition temperature (T_d) was 100–120°C higher than those of pure PMMA. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2256–2260, 2003     

Enhancement of corrosion protection effect of poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) by the incorporation of nanolayers of montmorillonite clay into copolymer matrix

A series of polymer–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials that consisted of poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) (PSAN) and layered montmorillonite (MMT) clay were successfully prepared by effectively dispersing the inorganic nanolayers of MMT clay into the organic PSAN matrix by a conventional in situ thermal polymerization. First of all, organic styrene and AN monomers at a specific feeding ratio were simultaneously intercalated into the interlayer regions of organophilic clay hosts and followed by a typical free‐radical polymerization with benzyl peroxide as initiator. The as‐synthesized PCN materials were subsequently characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, wide‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The as‐prepared PCN materials, in the form of coatings, incorporated with low clay loading (e.g., 1 wt %) on cold‐rolled steel, were found to be much superior in corrosion protection over those of bulk PSAN based on a series of standard electrochemical measurements of corrosion potential, polarization resistance, and corrosion current in 5 wt % aqueous NaCl electrolyte. Molecular weights of PSAN extracted from PCN materials and bulk PSAN were determined by gel permeation chromatography with THF as eluant. Effects of the material composition on the molecular barrier and thermal stability of PSAN along with PCN materials, in the form of both membrane and fine powder, were also studied by molecular permeability analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2269–2277, 2004     

Syntheses and properties of PI/clay hybrids

A new organomontmorillonite (CM) for PI hybrids has been developed by ion‐exchange reaction of cetyl pyridum chloride with Na⁺ montmorillonite (MMT). Polyimide/clay hybrids have been synthesized by employing two methods. Method I is by first blending a dimethylacetamide (DMAC) solution of 4,4′‐oxydianiline diamine (ODA) with a DMAC dispersion of CM before adding pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA). Method II is by blending a DMAC solution of poly(amic acid) with a DMAC dispersion of CM. Tensile, thermal, dielectric, and water‐absorption properties of hybrids prepared by these two methods have been studied in detail. Results show that these properties depend on the clay type (organophilic or not), clay concentration, and the method to synthesis hybrids. The CM concentration of 3 wt % in the hybrid by Method II results in optimum properties in tensile strength, modulus, elongation, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and water absorption. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 1902–1910, 2001     

Preparation and characterization of poly(butylene terephthalate) nanocomposites with various organoclays

Layered‐silicate‐based polymer–clay nanocomposite materials were prepared depending on the surface modification of montmorillonite (MMT). Nanocomposites consisting of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) as a matrix and dispersed inorganic clay modified with cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC), benzyl dimethyl N‐hexadecyl ammonium chloride, and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide by direct melt intercalation were studied. The organoclay loading was varied from 1 to 5 wt %. The organoclays were characterized with X‐ray diffraction (XRD) to compute the crystallographic spacing and with thermogravimetric analysis to study the thermal stability. Detailed investigations of the mechanical and thermal properties as well as a dispersion study by XRD of the PBT/clay nanocomposites were conducted. X‐ray scattering showed that the layers of organoclay were intercalated with intercalating agents. According to the results of a differential scanning calorimetry analysis, clay acted as a nucleating agent, affecting the crystallization. The PBT nanocomposites containing clay treated with CPC showed good mechanical properties because of intercalation into the polymer matrix. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Polypropylene nanocomposites prepared with natural and ODTABr‐modified montmorillonite

In this study, the main goal is to obtain montmorillonite nanocomposites of polypropylene (PP). To achieve this goal, a two‐phase study was performed. In the first part of the work, organomodified clay (OMMT) was synthesized and characterized. Octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (ODTABr) cationic surfactant was added to the clay (Na‐activated montmorillonite, MMT) dispersions in different concentrations in the range of 5 × 10^?5–1 × 10^?2 mol/L. Rheologic, electrokinetic, and spectral analyses indicated that ODTABr has interacted with MMT at optimum conditions when the concentration was 1 × 10^?2 mol/L. In the second part, modified (OMMT) and unmodified (MMT) montmorillonite were used to obtain PP nanocomposites (OMMT/PP and MMT/PP, respectively). The nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation where the montmorillonite contents were 1 or 5% (w/w) for each case. The thermal analyses showed that the thermal properties of OMMT/PP nanocomposites were better than MMT/PP, and both of them were also better than pure polymer. Increase in the concentration of MMT (or OMMT) decreased the thermal resistance. Based on the IR absorption intensity changes of regularity and conformational bands, it is found that the content of the helical structure of macromolecular chains has increased with increasing concentrations of both MMT and OMMT in the nanocomposites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Enhanced corrosion protection coatings prepared from soluble electronically conductive polypyrrole‐clay nanocomposite materials

A series of electronically conductive nanocomposite materials that consisted of soluble polypyrrole (PPY) and layered montmorillonite (MMT) clay platelets were prepared by effectively dispersing the inorganic nanolayers of MMT clay in organic PPY matrix via an in situ oxidative polymerization with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as dopant. Organic pyrrole monomers were first intercalated into the interlayer regions of organophilic clay hosts and followed by a one‐step oxidative polymerization. The as‐synthesized electronically conductive polypyrrole–clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials were then characterized by Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, wide‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PCNs in the form of coatings with low clay loading (e.g., 1.0 wt %) on cold‐rolled steel (CRS) were found to exhibit much better in corrosion protection over those of pristine PPY based on a series of electrochemical measurements including corrosion potential, polarization resistance, and corrosion current in 5 wt % aqueous NaCl electrolyte. Effects of the material composition on the thermal stability, optical properties, and electrical conductivity of pristine PPY along with PCN materials, in the form of fine powder, powder‐pressed pellet, and solution, were also studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV‐visible absorption spectra, and four‐point probe technique, respectively. The viscosity of PPY existed in PCN materials and pristine PPY were determined by viscometric analysis with m‐cresol as solvent. The heterogeneous nucleating effect of MMT clay platelets in PPY matrix was studied by wide‐angle powder XRD. The corresponding morphological images of the nucleating behavior of clay platelets in PPY matrix were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 3264–3272, 2003     

Dielectric properties and structures of melt‐compounded poly(ethylene oxide)–montmorillonite nanocomposites

The dielectric dispersion and relaxation process in melt‐compounded hot‐pressed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–montmorillonite (MMT) clay nanocomposite films of 0–20 wt % MMT concentration were investigated over the frequency range 20 Hz to 1 MHz at ambient temperature. X‐ray diffraction study of the nanocomposites evidences that the PEO has been intercalated into the MMT interlayer galleries with a helical‐type multilayer structures, which results the formation of unique parallel plane PEO–MMT layered structures. The relaxation times corresponding to PEO chain segmental motion were determined from the loss peak frequencies of different dielectric formalisms and the same is used to explore the interactions compatibility between PEO molecules and the MMT nano platelets. It is revealed that the loading of only 1 wt % MMT in PEO matrix significantly increases the PEO chain segmental motion due to intercalation, which further varies anomalously with increase of MMT concentration. The real part of dielectric function at 1 MHz, relaxation time, and dc conductivity of these melt‐compounded nanocomposites were compared with the aqueous solution‐cast PEO–MMT films. Considering the comparative changes in the values of various dielectric parameters, the effect of synthesization route on the intercalated/exfoliated‐MMT structures and the PEO chain dynamics were discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Dielectric behaviour and relaxation processes of montmorillonite clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)–ethylene glycol oligomer blends

BACKGROUND: Intercalated and exfoliated montmorillonite (MMT) clay structures in polymer matrices improve the thermal, mechanical, electrical and pharmaceutical properties of organic–inorganic materials. Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)–ethylene glycol oligomer (EGO) blends are biocompatible and non‐toxic materials. The dielectric characterization of MMT clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in PVP–EGO blends is important in understanding the ionic conduction behaviour in many complex phenomena occurring in biological systems, and in selective membranes and their use in controlled drug release systems and in liquid electrolytes. RESULTS: An investigation using dielectric spectroscopy in the 20 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range of MMT clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in PVP–EGO blends confirmed that the PVP segmental motion, ionic conduction relaxation time, electric double layer relaxation time and direct current electrical conductivity are significantly influenced by the clay concentration and EGO chain length. In these materials, ionic motion and PVP segmental dynamics are strongly coupled. Intercalation of EGO structures in clay galleries and exfoliation of clay platelets by adsorption of PVP–EGO structures on clay surfaces are governed by hydrogen bonding interactions between the carbonyl groups of PVP monomer units, the hydroxyl groups of EGOs and the hydroxylated aluminate surfaces of the MMT clay. CONCLUSION: The dielectric behaviour of intercalated and exfoliated structures of MMT clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in PVP–EGO blends provides a convenient way to obtain liquid organic‐inorganic polymeric nanocomposite electrolytes with tailored ionic conduction properties. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry