Abstract:
The present invention relates to various nano-composites and compositions comprising a cationic mediator and method thereof. The cationic mediator comprises a polymeric group and a cationic unit selected from the group consisting of onium cation and heterocyclic cation. The nano-composites and compositions exhibit improved gas permeability property, strong moisture absorbance, and high electrical conductivity etc.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to nano-composites and compositions including the nano-composite (also referred to as an organo-clay). More particularly, the present invention relates to a nano-composite comprising a cationic mediator and a clay, a polymer electrolyte composition comprising a cationic mediator and a solvent, a moisture reducing composition comprising a cationic mediator, the manufacture thereof, and industrial applications therefore. 
         [0002]    Since the discovery of exfoliated nylon/clay nanocomposites by Usuki et al. ( J. Mater. Res.  1993, 8, 1174), there have been extensive efforts to prepare various polymer-layered material composites. The most common morphology for miscible polymer-layered material dispersions is known as intercalation and exfoliation, which provides a polymer having improved mechanical, permeability, thermal, and heat distortion temperature properties. However, for polymers, particularly nonpolar polymers, well-exfoliated polymer-layered material nanocomposites are notoriously difficult to obtain. 
         [0003]    Gas impermeability is an important characteristics for many polymer products, for example, butyl rubber. However, unsaturated bonds in butyl rubber, contributed by the presence of isoprene monomer units in the backbone, can be attacked by atmospheric ozone. These attacks may, over time, lead to oxidative degradation, which may subsequently lead to chain cleavage. As such, there exists a continuous interest in lowering gas permeability of polymers. 
         [0004]    One technique for lowering gas permeability is using well-exfoliated layered materials as an additive. However, the effort to improve gas permeability must be balanced against damaging other polymer properties such as vulcanization plateau, Shore A hardness, cure capability, rubber damping properties, cure time, modulus, stress-strain, and moisture absorption, in order to achieve an overall superior performance. For example, although they reduce gas permeability, organo-clays derived from some organic ammonium salts of low decomposition temperature, may damage or retard the cure process of the rubber compound, especially, when using free radical cure, sulfur cure, ZnO cure and etc. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides nano-composites based on a cationic mediator which is comprised of a polymeric group and a cationic unit selected from the group consisting of onium cation and heterocyclic cation. According to selected embodiments, the invention employs green solvents, e.g. 1-methylimidazol, as the reactants in preparing the cationic mediator, making both the process and product relatively environmentally friendly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a nano-composite comprising (a) a cationic mediator comprised of a polymeric group and a cationic unit which is selected from the group consisting of onium cation and heterocyclic cation, and (b) a clay, wherein said polymeric group is covalently bonded to said cationic unit, and said clay is exfoliated by said cationic mediator. 
         [0007]    Another embodiment of the invention provides a rubber and/or tire product, which includes the nano-composite. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of exfoliating a clay. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment, the invention provides a polymeric electrolyte composition, comprised of the cationic mediator and a solvent. The polymeric electrolyte composition can be used as battery membrane, etc. 
         [0010]    According to another embodment, the invention provides a moisture reducing composition comprising the cationic mediator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0012]    In the drawings appended hereto: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows the wide angle X-ray diffractions (XRD) of four samples in one embodiment of the invention. The four samples are MAE powder, MAE treated Exxpro rubber (no amine), MAE treated Exxpro rubber modified with triallyl amine, and MAE treated Exxpro rubber modified with tributyl amine. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows the small angle X-ray scatterings (SAXS) of three samples in one embodiment of the invention. The three samples are MAE treated Exxpro rubber, MAE treated Exxpro rubber modified with triallylamine, and MAE treated Exxpro rubber modified with tributylamine. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    The term “cationic mediator” is used in the present invention to define a chemical species able to effectively mediate, or compatiblize, an immiscible organic polymer and an inorganic layered material such as clay, into a relatively homogenous mixture which lacks significant phase separation. One exemplary form of “mediation” is to facilitate the intercalation or exfoliation of organic polymer in between the layers of the layered material. 
         [0016]    The cationic mediator comprises at least one cationic unit, i.e. hydrophilic part, that can bind to the layers of the inorganic layered material with effectively higher affinity than with an organic, and typically also hydrophobic, material, such as butyl rubber. While typically a cationic mediator binds to an inorganic layered material by hydrophilic interaction or ionic bond, it can also bind or link to an organic material through a variety of physical and chemical forces such as hydrophobic interaction, covalent bonds, π-π stacking interaction, lock-key type interaction, hydrogen bonds, and coordination bonds etc. Accordingly, a cationic mediator of the present invention structurally also comprises, in addition to the “at least one cationic unit”, a polymeric group, examples of which include an organic binding unit, or a sufficiently long alkyl chain, etc. 
         [0017]    The cationic unit, monoatomic or polyatomic, bears one or more elementary proton charges, i.e. positive charges. Depending upon the specific structure of a cationic mediator, such as the presence or absence of a conjugated system, the positive charge(s) can be either localized or delocalized. The cationic mediator is accompanied by negatively charged species to balance its positive charge and neutralize the overall charge of the system. Although the negatively charged species is typically independent, e.g. counter ion(s), it is also within the scope of the present invention that the negatively charged species is part of the cationic mediator, by which an inner salt is formed. In various embodiments of the present invention, the counter ions of the cationic mediators may also be those negatively charged groups of the layered material, for example, after the cationic mediators have exchanged some cations of the layered material by intercalating between the layers of the clay. 
         [0018]    Exemplary counter ions of the cationic mediator include, but are not limited to, simple anions such as Cl − , Br − , F − , I − , O 2− , S 2− , Se 2− , Te 2− , N 3− , As 3− , and the like; and polyatomic anions such as BF 4   − , PF 6   − , CO 3   2− , HCO 3   − , SO 4   2− , CF 3 SO 3   − , SO 3   2− , S 2 O 3   −2 , HSO 4   − , H 2 PO 4   − , HPO 4   2− , PO 4   3− , NO 2   − , NO 3   − , C 2 O 4   2− , C 2 H 3 O 2   − , OH − , O 2   2− , N 3   − , CrO 4   2− , Cr 2 O 7   2− , BO 3   3− , MnO 4   − , AsO 4   3− , SCN − , CN − , CNO − , ClO − , ClO 2   − , ClO 3   − , ClO 4   − , BrO − , BrO 2   − , BrO 3   − , BrO 4   − , IO − , IO 2   − , IO 3   − , IO 4   − , and the like. 
         [0019]    According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a nano-composite comprising (a) a cationic mediator comprised of a polymeric group and a cationic unit which is selected from the group consisting of onium cation and heterocyclic cation, and (b) an exfoliated clay, wherein said polymeric group is covalently bonded to said cationic unit. 
         [0020]    Although the cationic unit in the mediator may be one or more of organometallic cations such as Fe 3+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Zn 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , Mg 2+  and the like, a preferred cationic unit is one or more onium cations such as ammonium, oxonium, fluoronium, phosphonium, sulfonium, chloronium, arsonium, selenonium, bromonium, stibonium, telluronium, iodonium, and bismuthonium having the general formulas (I) to (XIV) shown below: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    in which R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  can be independently any suitable univalent (i.e. having a valence of one) groups. 
         [0021]    It is also within the scope of the invention that two or more of the R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  groups are replaced by a group having two or more free valencies on the same atom, for example, hydrocarbylidyne oxonium, iminium, nitrilium etc. 
         [0022]    The heterocyclic cations include, but are not limited to, imidazolium, 1-alkylimidazolium, 1,3-dialkylimidazolium, 1-arylalkylimidazolium, 1-arylalky-3-alkyl-limidazolium, 1,3-diarylalkylimidazolium, benzimidazolium, imidazolinium, pyridinium, piperidinium, pyrazinium, piperazinium, pyrrolium, pyrrolidinium, pyrazolium, diazolium, triazolium, pyridazinium, tetrazolium, amidinium, guanidinium, oxazolium, oxadiazolium, oxatriazolium, thiazolium, thiadiazolium, thiatriazolium, quaternary pyrazolidine, quaternary pyrrolidones, indolium, isoindolium, quinolinium, isoquinolinium, quinazolinium, quinoxalinium, derivates thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
         [0023]    Taking imidazolium to exemplify the meaning of derivatives, the cationic unit can have the formula (XIV) as shown below. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0024]    In formulas (I) to (XIV), each of the R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  groups can independently be hydrogen; a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched, cyclic or acyclic C 1 -C 50  alkyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted aryl-containing or hetaryl-containing group; and the like. 
         [0025]    Specific examples of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  groups include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, vinyl, allyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, behenyl, palmitoleyl, oleyl, linoleyl, linelenyl, erucyl, capryl, tallow, n-pentyl, any isopentyl, n-hexyl, any isohexyl, n-heptyl, any isoheptyl, n-octyl, any isooctyl, n-nonyl, any isononyl, n-decyl, any isodecyl, n-undecyl, any isoundecyl, n-dodecyl or lauryl, any isododecyl, n-tridecyl, any isotridecyl, n-tetradecyl, myristyl, any isotetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, any isopentadecyl, n-hexadecyl or cetyl, palmityl, any isohexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, any isoheptadecyl, n-octadecyl, stearyl, any isooctadecyl, n-nonadecyl, any isononadecyl, n-eicosyl, any isoeicosyl, n-henicosyl, any isohenicosyl, n-docosyl, any isodocosyl, n-tricosyl, any isotricosyl, n-tetracosyl, any isotetracosyl, n-pentacosyl, any isopentacosyl, n-hexacosyl, any isohexacosyl, n-heptacosyl, any isoheptacosyl, n-octacosyl, any isooctacosyl, n-nonacosyl, any isononacosyl, n-triacontyl, any isotriacontyl, n-hentriacontyl, any isohentriacontyl, n-dotriacontyl, any isodotriacontyl, n-tritriacontyl, any isotritriacontyl, n-tetratriacontyl, any isotetratriacontyl, n-pentatriacontyl, any isopentatriacontyl, n-hexatriacontyl, any isohexatriacontyl, n-heptatriacontyl, any isoheptatriacontyl, n-octatriacontyl, any isooctatriacontyl, n-nonatriacontyl, any isononatriacontyl, n-tetracontyl, any isotetracontyl, n-hentetracontyl, any isohentetracontyl, n-dotetracontyl, any isodotetracontyl, n-tritetracontyl, any isotritetracontyl, n-tetratetracontyl, any isotetratetracontyl, n-pentatetracontyl, any isopentatetracontyl, n-hexatetracontyl, any isohexatetracontyl, n-heptatetracontyl, any isoheptatetracontyl, n-octatetracontyl, any isooctatetracontyl, n-nonatetracontyl, any isononatetracontyl, n-pentacontyl, any isopentacontyl, and the like. 
         [0026]    In formulas (I) to (XIV), R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  can also independently of each other be aryl-containing or hetaryl-containing groups. As used herein, the terms “aryl” and “hetaryl” are intended to embrace monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and heterocyclic groups. Examples of aralkyl and alkylaralkyl groups include, but are not limited to, benzyl, benzhydryl, tolylmethyl, trityl, cinnamyl, phenethyl, styryl, phenylbutyl, neophyl, and the like. Examples of aryl and alkylaryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl, biphenyl, tolyl, xylyl, mesityl, cumenyl, di(t-butyl)phenyl, anthryl, indenyl, naphthyl, and the like. Haloaryl and haloaralkyl groups are aryl and aralkyl groups which have been substituted with one or more halo groups. Examples of such groups include, but are not limited to, halobenzyl (e.g., fluorobenzyl, chlorobenzyl, bromobenzyl, or iodobenzyl, whether ortho-, meta-, or para-substituted), dihalobenzyl, trihalobenzyl, tetrahalobenzyl, pentahalobenzyl, halophenyl (e.g., fluorophenyl, chlorophenyl, bromophenyl, or iodophenyl, whether ortho-, meta-, or para-substituted), dihalophenyl, trihalophenyl, tetrahalophenyl, and pentahalophenyl. 
         [0027]    Specific examples of other aryl-containing and hetaryl-containing R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  groups include phenoxy, tolyloxy, xylyloxy, mesityloxy, and cumenyloxy; biphenyl, anilino, toluidino, tosyl, allyl-benzyl or -phenyl, furyl, pyridyl, 2-pyridyl (pyridin-2-yl), indol-1-yl, chloromethyl-benzyl or -phenyl, trifluoromethyl-benzyl or -phenyl, hydroxy-benzyl or -phenyl, methoxy-benzyl or -phenyl, ethoxy-benzyl or -phenyl, methoxyethoxy-benzyl or -phenyl, allyloxy-benzyl or -phenyl, phenoxy-benzyl or -phenyl, acetoxy-benzyl or -phenyl, benzoyloxy-benzyl or -phenyl, methylthio-benzyl or -phenyl, phenylthio-benzyl or -phenyl, tolylthio-benzyl or -phenyl, methylamino-benzyl or -phenyl, dimethylamino-benzyl or -phenyl, ethylamino-benzyl or -phenyl, diethylamino-benzyl or -phenyl, acetylamino-benzyl or -phenyl, carboxy-benzyl or -phenyl, methoxycarbonyl-benzyl or -phenyl, ethoxycarbonyl-benzyl or -phenyl, phenoxycarbonyl-benzyl or -phenyl, chlorophenoxycarbonyl-benzyl or -phenyl, N-cyclohexylcarbamoyloxy-benzyl or -phenyl, allyloxycarbonyl-benzyl or -phenyl, carbamoyl-benzyl or -phenyl, N-methylcarbamoyl-benzyl or -phenyl, N,N-dipropylcarbamoyl-benzyl or -phenyl, N-phenylcarbamoyl-benzyl or -phenyl, nitro-benzyl or -phenyl, cyano-benzyl or -phenyl, sulfo-benzyl or -phenyl, sulfonato-benzyl or -phenyl, phosphono-benzyl or -phenyl, phosphonato-benzyl or -phenyl groups, and morpholino-benzyl or -phenyl and the like. 
         [0028]    Cationic unit(s) in the mediator may also cover any suitable and sufficiently stable ylium ions or carbocations such as carbenium, bis(ylium), tris(ylium), alkylium, carbonium such as di- or tri-arylcarbonium, vinyl cations, allyl cation, sulfanylium, germylium, furan-2-ylium, acylium, sulfonylium, and the like. 
         [0029]    There is no specific limitation to the polymeric group in the cationic mediator. However, preferred polymeric groups include polymers that can facilitate intercalation or exfoliation between clay layers more effectively with than without the aid of the cationic unit as demonstrated above. Conveniently defined by its backbone structure, the polymeric group can have a saturated or unsaturated polyvinyl-type (i.e., carbon-chain) backbone, such as polychloroprene, polyethylene, isobutene-isoprene rubber (butyl rubber, IIR), halogenated butyl rubber (HIIR) such as CIIR and BrIIR, neoprene rubber, nitrile rubber (NBR), 1,2-polybutadiene, polyallene, polybutadiene (butadiene rubber, BR), polyisobutylene (PIB), polyisoprene, 3,4-polyisoprene, poly(methyl acrylate), poly(methyl vinyl ketone), ethylene-propylene elastomer, polystyrene (PS), polyacrylamide, poly(acrylamide oxime), polypropylene (PP), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), poly(methyl methacrylate), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl pyridine), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(acrylic anhydride), polyacrylonitrile, Exxpro™ elastomers (brominated isobutylene p-methylstyrene copolymer, Exxon Chemical, TX, USA), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and the like, and mixtures thereof. 
         [0030]    The polymeric group can also possess a backbone with one or more functional groups such as carbonyl, or a non-carbon element such as N, S or O etc. (i.e. heterochain polymer). Exemplary heterochain polymers include, but are not limited to, polyether such as poly(oxyethylene), polyformaldehyde, poly(phenylene oxide) or polyacetaldehyde; polyacrolein, polysulfide, polysulfone, poly(alkylene polysulfide), polyester, polycarbonate, polyphosphate ester, polyamide, polyurea, polyurethane, heterocyclic polymer, polyhydrazides, polyimide, melamine-formaldehyde resin (MF), polysaccharides, phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF), polyanhydride etc., and mixtures thereof. 
         [0031]    More specific polymer examples are illustrated in the following scheme, in which n, x, y, and z are all integral numbers: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0032]    Moreover, the polymeric group of the present invention can be inorganic or inorganic/organic polymer such as polysiloxane, polysilane, carborane polymer, and organometallic polymer etc. 
         [0033]    The invention provides a nano-composite comprising (a) a cationic mediator comprised of a polymeric group and a cationic unit which is selected from the group consisting of onium cation and heterocyclic cation, and (b) a clay, wherein said polymeric group is covalently bonded to said cationic unit, and said clay is exfoliated by said cationic mediator. Since the polymeric group is covalently bonded to one or more of the cationic units, one or more coupling groups can be formed between the polymeric group and cationic units. The coupling groups, optionally together with the polymeric group, may sometimes be viewed as one of the R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  groups, which are also contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. Illustrative examples include: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0034]    The architecture of the polymeric group can be linear, branched, or networked, a centipede polymer, a comb polymer, a star polymer, a ladder polymer, or a dendrimer and so on. When the polymeric group is a copolymer, it can be block copolymer, graft copolymer, statistical copolymer, random copolymer, periodic copolymer, and alternating copolymer etc. Likewise, terpolymers, tetrapolymers and so on, are also within the scope of the polymers of the present invention. Generally, the molecular weight of the polymer can be between 300 and 300,000,000, preferably between 1,000 and 100,000,000, more preferably between 5,000 and 10,000,000. 
         [0035]    In the case exemplified in formulas (XVIII), (XIV), and (XX), the polymeric group connects to the cationic unit(s) via one or more covalent bonds (coupling groups). One end of the coupling group can connect to any suitable position in the polymeric group backbone, while the other end can connect to any suitable position in the cationic unit(s). Exemplary coupling groups include, but are not limited to, linear or branched (C 1 -C 6 )alkylene such as methylene, ethylene, and propylene, and linear or branched (C 1 -C 6 )oxyalkylene etc. The stereochemistry, due to the pendant cationic unit(s), of the polymeric group can be isotactic, syndiotactic, or atactic. However, it should be understood that, merely for nomenclature purpose, the coupling group, entirely or partially, can be named as part of the cationic unit(s), or part of the polymeric group. For example, the cationic mediator of the following structure can be described as 1-methylimidazolium with a methylene coupling group to the polymeric group, or a 1,3-dimethylimidazolium with a direct covalent bond to the polymeric group. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0036]    Optionally, the nano-composite of the present invention may further mix with another polymer such as butyl rubber. Advantageously, butyl rubber can also exfoliate the clay. To this end, in the cationic mediator, at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  groups for any of formula (I-XIII) onium cations, or at least one of R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  groups for formula (XIV) heterocyclic cation, or at least part of the polymeric group, should preferably be of such length or size (e.g. having a carbon chain with at least four carbon atoms, at least eight carbon atoms, or at least 16 carbon atoms) to have sufficient hydrophobicity and be able to effectively bind with butyl rubber, and facilitate the co-intercalation or co-exfoliation of the butyl rubber in between clay layers. 
         [0037]    Optionally, the cationic mediator of the present invention may be combined with other cationic mediators or surfactants, in exfoliating clay and forming the nano-composite of the present invention. Examples of the “other types of cationic mediator” may be dimethyl ditallow ammonium, trimethyl tallow ammonium, dimethyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium, methyl ethyl ditallow ammonium, methyl ethyl benzyl tallow ammonium, dimethyl ethyl tallow ammonium, and some heterocyclic cations as indicated below. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0038]    “Layered material” means an inorganic material that is in the form of a plurality of adjacent bound layers or plates. Layered materials used are those that can give at least one of the cationic mediators access to their interlayer spaces through exchanging, partially or completely, their cations with cationic mediators, a process called intercalation or exfoliation. Intercalated layered materials may retain order or uniformity in layer spacing and/or layer position. In one embodiment, the layered material is first intercalated, and then exfoliated. The cationic mediator to facilitate intercalation or exfoliation may be accompanied along with one or more polymers by connecting the polymer(s) through a variety of forces, for example, hydrophobic interaction, π-π stacking interaction, lock-key type interaction, hydrogen bonds, coordination bonds, covalent bonds, and combinations thereof. Under the influence of the cationic mediator, the polymer(s) can also intercalate in between, or compatiblize with, or exfoliate, or delaminate the layers of the layered material. In many cases, the layered material is clay, which typically comprises an inorganic phase having layered materials in plates or other shapes with a significantly high aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of the largest and smallest dimension of the clay particles. 
         [0039]    Exemplary clays include, but are not limited to, synthetic mica; smectites such as montmorillonite (Bentonite), sodium montmorillonite, magnesium montmorillonite, calcium montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, hectorite, sodium hectorite, saponite, synthetic saponite, and sauconite; pyrophyllite; glauconites; vermiculites; polygorskines; sepiolites; allophanes; imogolites; talc; mica; fluoro-mica; illites; glauconite; phyllosilicates; volkonskoite; sobockite; stevensite; svinfordite; magadiite; kenyaite; kaolinite; dickite; nacrite; anauxite; ledikite; montronite; silicate; halloysite; metahalloysite; sericite; allophone; serpentine clays; chrysotile; antigorite; attapulgite; sepiolite; palygorskite; Kibushi clay; gairome clay; hisingerite; chlorite; and mixtures thereof. 
         [0040]    Typical clays have a layered structure with a gap of about 0.1 nm between each layer and cations such as K +  and Na +  on the surface of each layer. The cations are attached by an ionic interaction with the negatively charged surface of the clay layers, and create a net neutral charge between clay layers. 
         [0041]    The cationic mediator and the clay of the present invention are either commercially available, or can be prepared using synthetic techniques that are known to a person skilled in the art. For example, a brominated isobutylene p-methylstyrene copolymer can be obtained from Exxon Chemicals under the trade name of Exxpro 3745. Dimethylditallow ammonium treated mica and synthetic mica can be obtained from Coop Chemicals (Tokyo, Japan) under the trade name of MAE and ME-100, respectively. According to one embodiment, a cationic mediator comprised of a polyether group and an 1-methylimidazolium cation is produced by condensing a halogen-containing polymer such as polyepichlorohydrin with 1-methylimidazole at elevated temperature, preferably up to 70° C., more preferably up to 100° C., and most preferably up to 150° C. In this reaction, the reactant 1-methylimidazole is one example of room temperature ionic liquids which are commonly considered as a green solvent for chemical synthesis. It should be understood that, due to the accessibility of the polyepichlorohydrin chloro- group to the 1-methylimidazole, not necessarily all of the chloro- groups are converted to 1-methylimidazolium. Preferably, the conversion is at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, and most preferably at least 95%. Without being bound by theory, the reaction is believed to occur in a mechanism as illustrated below. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0042]    In one embodiment, a cationic mediator comprised of a butyl rubber group and ammonium is produced by reacting a solid state polymer, such as brominated butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber or Exxpro, with suitable amine compounds, such as tributylamine or triallylamine. The reaction product can then be directly mixed with a clay or an organo-clay to prepare nano-composites of the present invention. The benefit of this embodiment is that, among others, the process does not need treatment of the clay using polymer surfactants in solution and is therefore efficient and cost-effective. 
         [0043]    In various embodiments, the cationic mediator may be used to exfoliate a clay and form useful products such as a nano-composite, or organo-clay, or exfoliated clay. An exfoliated layered material does not retain the degree of order or uniformity in layer spacing and/or position that may be found in layered materials or intercalated layered materials. In the present invention, the ratio between clay and cationic mediator can be from 5:95 to 95:5 by weight, preferably from 30:70 to 70:30 by weight, and more preferably from 40:60 to 60:40. Preferably, the exfoliated clay will have an average between-layer gap greater than about 1 nm, and more preferably a gap greater than about 3.0 nm. 
         [0044]    In the exfoliation procedure, optionally a clay may be first swelled by placing it in water. Swelling takes place because the cations of the clay become solubilized in the water, leaving adjacent negatively charged clay layers. The adjacent clay layers are repulsed by their similar negative charges, resulting in gaps. A cationic mediator may then be added to the swollen clay to form an organo-clay or the nano-composite. Alternatively, before addition of the cationic mediator, the clay may be pre-exfoliated with some cationic surfactants such as ammonium salts. Still alternatively, if a cationic mediator per se can exist as an ionic liquid during the exfoliation procedure, a clay may be directly mixed with the cationic mediator. The cationic mediator is attracted to the negatively charged surface of the clay, keeping the swelling state stable and forming gaps of at least about 5-10 nm between the layers. If additional non-polar polymer such as rubber is added to the clay/cationic mediator nano-composite, it can further separate the layers of the clay, because the added polymer and the cationic mediator can attract each other at, e.g., their hydrophobic portions, and the added polymer will penetrate between clay layers. The large molecule size of the cationic mediator and/or the added polymer can counteract any remaining Van der Waals interactions between the clay layers and the clay can be fully exfoliated, i.e. separated into discrete layers. 
         [0045]    The nano-composite of present invention may be utilized in various applications, for example, rubber formulation and tire production, because the effective exfoliation of clays helps to improve gas permeability and other physical properties of rubber. In one embodiment of the invention, an organo-clay is dispersed into a rubber such as butyl rubber. Optionally, preferably prior to dispersing the organo-clay in the rubber, the organo-clay may be washed and dried. Preferably, the organo-clay is washed with an alcohol, such as, but not limited to, isopropanol, water or mixtures thereof. According to the present invention, the rubber so formulated has lower gas permeability without a negative impact on the cure properties. 
         [0046]    In a rubber formulation, additional stabilizers, antioxidants, conventional fillers, processing aids, accelerators, extenders, curing agents, reinforcing agents, reinforcing resins, pigments, fragrances, and the like can optionally be added. Specific examples of useful antioxidants and stabilizers include 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylphenyl) benzotriazole, nickel di-butyl-di-thiocarbamate, tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite, 2,6-di-t-butyl4-methylphenol, and the like. Exemplary fillers include silica, carbon black, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and the like. Suitable reinforcing materials are inorganic or organic products of high molecular weight. Examples include glass fibers, asbestos, boron fibers, carbon and graphite fibers, whiskers, quartz and silica fibers, ceramic fibers, metal fibers, natural organic fibers, and synthetic organic fibers. 
         [0047]    As one exemplary benefit of the present invention, good cure properties and low gas permeability can both be achieved for some rubber formulations. Exemplary rubbers suitable to the present invention include, but are not limited to, butyl rubber, BR, Hcis BR, SBR, NR and so on. As used herein, the butyl rubber may include isobutylene, halobutyl rubber, and copolymers of isobutylene and one or more additional monomers, such as isoprene, styrene, butadiene, and mixtures thereof. The butyl rubber composition is useful in the formation of inner liners for automobile tires and in applications requiring good damping characteristics, such as engine mounts. Other uses for the butyl rubber include use in air cushions, pneumatic springs, air bellows, accumulator bags, tire-curing bladders, high temperature service hoses, and conveyor belts for handling hot materials. 
         [0048]    The nano-composite of the present invention can be advantageously incorporated into butyl rubber by any method known to a skilled artisan, for example, wet/solvent method or a dry mixing method under mild mixing conditions. Such mild mixing conditions are, for example, similar to those normally used in butyl rubber mixing. The mixing may be accomplished, for example, by using any integral mixing device such as a Brabender mixer, a twinscrew extruder or a kneader, at a mixing rate of from about 20 to about 200 rpm, at a temperature of about 25° C. to about 250° C. for a period of about 3˜30 minutes. In one embodiment, the mixing conditions are for example, mixing in a Brabender mixer at about 60 rpm at a temperature of about 70° C. for about three minutes. Of course, the organo-clay can be added according to any other method known by the skilled artisan. It is preferred that between about 1 and about 70%, more preferably, between about 3 and about 40% by weight of organo-clay or nano-composite is incorporated into the butyl rubber. Preferably, the clay in the final product is at least about 50% exfoliated, more preferably at least about 70% exfoliated. The degree of exfoliation may be found using an image created by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The image includes black areas representing clay particles. Imaging analysis software may be used to determine the degree of exfoliation as the ratio of the population of the black areas that have a thickness of less than about 5 nm to the total population of black areas. 
         [0049]    In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to non-limiting examples. The following examples and tables are presented for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. 
       EXAMPLES 
       [0050]    Organo-clays or clays have been treated with solid reactive rubbers to form nano-composites. The solid reactive rubbers were prepared by reacting brominated butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber or Exxpro with amines. Clays were exfoliated by one-step process, i.e. mixing clays or organo-clays with the reactive rubber, and the process does not need complicated processes containing the treatment using polymer surfactants in solution. 
       Example 1  
       [0051]    To a 50g Brabender mixer, 45g of Exxpro 3745 (from Exxon chemical) and 2.1 g of tributylamine were added. The mixture was allowed to react at 100° C. for 4 minutes. In the same time the mixture was agitated at speed of 60 rpm. The whole process was protected by nitrogen purging. 
       Example 2  
       [0052]    The process of example 1 was repeated with minor change of the materials used. In this example, to the 50 g Brabender mixture were charged 45 g of Exxpro 3745 and 1.5 g of triallylamine. 
       Example 3  
       [0053]    38.4 g of the product from example 1 was mixed with MAE (from Coop Chemical Corp.) in the Brabender mixer at 60 rpm, 100° C. for 3 minutes, wherein MAE is dimethyiditallow ammonium treated mica. After the stock was cooled to room temperature, the stock was added to the Brabender again. The remill process was taken at 60 rpm, 100° C. for 3 minutes. 
       Example 4  
       [0054]    The process of example 3 was repeated with minor change of the material used. 38.4 g of the product from example 2 was mixed with MAE. 
       Example 5  
       [0055]    38.4 g of Exxpro 3745 was mixed with MAE in the Brabender mixer at 60 rpm, 100° C. for 3 minutes. The stock was cooled to room temperature. The stock was added to the Brabender again. The remill process was taken at 60 rpm 100° C. for 3 minutes. 
       Example 6  
       [0056]    Neat MAE powder and products from Examples 3, 4 and 5 were then examined using wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) at 50 kV and 200 mA power. XRD and SAXS results in  FIGS. 1 and 2  indicated that the new materials and the new treatment improved the exfoliation of MAE. 
       Example 7  
       [0057]    A nitrogen purged Brabender mixer (˜60 g capacity) equipped with roller blades was initially set to 60 rpm and 75° C. The mixer was then charged with 30 g of Hydrin H75 from ZEON Chemicals in Tokyo, Japan. After 1 minute, 26.6 g of 1-methylimidazole (from Aldrich) was slowly added into the mixer, at about 5 g/min. Then, the agitation speed was adjusted to 20 rpm and the heating element was set to an isothermal condition. After 22 hours, the material in the mixer became very viscous and the temperature was adjusted to 100° C. After 1 hour, the heating element was turned off and the polymer was allowed to cool down. The polymer was removed from the mixer at 23° C. 
       Example 8  
       [0058]    A nitrogen purged Brabender mixer (˜60 g capacity) equipped with roller blades was initially set to 60 rpm and 75° C. The mixer was then charged with 35 g of Hydrin H75 from ZEON Chemicals in Tokyo, Japan. After 1 minute, 26.6 g of 1-methylimidazole (from Aldrich) was slowly added into the mixer, at about 5 g/min. Then, the agitation speed was adjusted to 20 rpm and the heating element was set to be isothermal condition. After 21 hours, the polymer was removed from the mixer. 
         [0059]    The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.