Rapid intercalation of sustainable resource‐based linseed oil fatty amide—A polymer precursor in cloisite® 93A by microwave‐assisted method

The present study reports a novel approach for the rapid intercalation of linseed oil‐derived fatty amide (LFA) in organo‐montmorillonite (OMMT)‐Cloisite® 93A. The intercalation of LFA (0.25, 0.5, and 1 wt %) in Cloisite® 93A was carried by varying the microwave irradiation time from 30 to 90 s. X‐ray diffraction studies confirmed that microwave irradiation resulted in higher intercalation in a shorter reaction time. The basal spacings were shifted from 12.34 to 16.45 Å on microwave irradiation for 30 s while exfoliation occurred at and beyond 60 s exposure. Controlled morphology of the nanohybrids was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy analysis on microwave irradiation for 30 s. This biomodified Cloisite® 93A could be used for the preparation of polyesters, polyesteramides, and polyurethanes of controlled morphology for various applications in biomedicine. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011