Synthesis and characterization of thermally stable camphor-based polyimide–clay nanocomposites

A new monomer was prepared from (1R,3S)-(+) -camphoric acid. Novel polyimide and polyimide–clay hybrid composites were developed from one-pot condensation reactions of this monomer and pyromellitic dianhyride. Polyimidemontmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared from solution of polyimide and with different weight percentages (1, 5, 10 wt %) of organo-modified montmorillonite (OM-MMT) using N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as aprotic solvent. The reactive organoclay was formed by using hexadecylpyridinium chloride as a swelling agent for silicate layers of montmorillonite.