Siliani, M.López Manchado, M. A.Valentin, J. L.Arroyo Ramos, Victor MiguelMarcos, A.Khayet Souhaimi, MohamedGarcía Villaluenga, Juan Pedro2023-06-202023-06-202007-02-071533-488010.1166/jnn.2007.134https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/50990© 2007 American Scientific Publishers. The authors wish to thank the CICYT, MAT 2004-00825 and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (MCYT), PPQ2003-03299, for financial support and Dr. López Manchado for the concession of a Ramón y Cajal contract (MCYT).Novel millable polyurethane (PU)/organoclay nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by conventional transformation techniques. One natural (C6A) and two organically modified (C15A and C30B) montmorillonites have been used as clays for preparing PU nanocomposites. The optimum dispersion of nanofiller at a nanometer scale in PU matrix was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscopy. A substantial improvement of the PU properties by addition of only a small amount of organoclay was observed. It is worthy to note that the organoclays show a different interfacial interaction with the PU matrix, which was reflected in different macroscopic properties. Thus, C30B organoclay seems to react with PU chains to form covalent bonds, while C15A only interacts physically with PU chains. Mechanical and barrier properties are analyzed.engjournal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2007.134http://www.ingentaconnect.com/restricted access536Millable PolyurethanesMorphologyNanocompositesOrganoclayPermeabilityTermodinámica2213 Termodinámica