Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modified clay mineral comprising a layered clay mineral intercalated with a catalyst that can catalyze a polymerization reaction. Also disclosed herein are a polymer/clay nanocomposite and a method for its manufacture, the polymer/clay nanocomposite comprising a polymer matrix and a layered clay mineral uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix, the layered clay mineral being intercalated with a catalyst that catalyzes the polymerization of the polymer matrix.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a polymer nanocomposite, which comprises (a) modifying a clay material comprising layered silicate particles by ion exchange with a surfactant to form an organoclay; (b) dispersing the organoclay in a vinyl monomer and bulk polymerizing said monomer in the presence of a catalyst; and (c) adding a liquid suspension to the above mixture to effect suspension polymerization when the conversion rate of the polymerization is about 10% to 50%, thereby forming a composite having the particles uniformly dispersed in a vinyl polymer matrix.

Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic nanocomposite is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) contacting a swellable layered silicate with a polymerizable aminoaryl lactam monomer to achieve intercalation of said lactam monomer between adjacent layers of said layered silicate; and (b) admixing the intercalated layered silicate with a thermoplastic polymer, and heating the admixture to provide for flow of said polymer and polymerization of the intercalated lactam monomer to cause exfoliation of said layered silicate, thereby forming a thermoplastic nanocomposite having exfoliated silicate layers dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer matrix.

Abstract: A method for producing a conductive polyaniline/layered inorganic nanocomposite having a conductivity greater than 10.sup.-1 S/cm is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a reaction mixture comprising water, an aniline monomer, a protonic acid, an oxidizing agent, and a layered silicate which has been subjected to an acid treatment or is intercalated with polyethylene glycol; and (b) subjecting said reaction mixture to oxidative polymerization to form a conductive polymeric nanocomposite having said layered silicate dispersed in a polymeric matrix of polyaniline.

Abstract: A copolyamide composition prepared from hexamethylene diamine and either mixtures of adipic acid and terephthalic acid, or mixtures of adipic acid, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid, has a melting point below 320.degree. C., a glass transition temperature between 100.degree. C. and 120.degree. C. and physical properties similar to nylon 66.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate), which is prepared from reacting terephthalic acid and 1,3-propanediol in the presence of an effective catalytic amount of ethylene glycol titanate to undergo esterification to form a monomer; and polymerizing the monomer in the presence of an effective catalytic amount of antimony acetate to obtain poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate). The obtained poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate) (PPT) has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.65-0.91 dl/g, acid number (--COOH amount) of less than 40 meq/kg, and L*>60. Without adding a pigment, the yellowness b* of PPT is below 9, even below 5. The yellowness b* of PPT even reaches below 3 when a pigment is incorporated.

Abstract: A copolyamide composition prepared from hexamethylene diamine and mixtures of adipic acid, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid, has a melting point below 300.degree. C., a glass transition temperature between 100.degree. C. and 130.degree. C. and physical properties similar to nylon 66.

Abstract: A catalyst composition for use in the preparation of poly(butylene terephthalate) from dimethyl terephthalate, comprising: (a) a titanium compound primary catalyst, from about 0.0005 PHR to about 5 PHR; (b) a first co-catalyst containing at least one of Zn, Co, Mn, Mg, Ca, or Pb series compounds, between about 0.0001 PHR and 5 PHR; and (c) a second co-catalyst containing an alkali metal phosphate, an alkali metal phosphite, an alkali hypophosphite, or an alkali metal polyphosphate between about 0.0001 PHR and 5 PHR; wherein PHR represents parts of the primary catalyst or the co-catalyst per one hundred parts, by weight, of dimethyl terephthalate. Preferred titanium compounds include tetrabutyl titanate or tetra(isopropyl)titanate. Preferred metal compounds for use as first co-catalyst are metal acetates. The alkali metal phosphate can be a phosphate salt containing one, two, or three metal groups; and the alkali metal phosphite can be a phosphite salt containing one or two metal groups.