Caramel-clay nanocomposites

Novel nanocomposite materials have been prepared following a microwave assisted reaction of sucrose with 2 : 1 phyllosilicates belonging to the clay minerals family. In this way, sucrose gives macromolecular intercalation compounds ( referred to as "caramel - clay nanocomposites'') when mixtures of this disaccharide with Na - montmorillonite are heated in a monomodal microwave furnace. The starting, intermediate and final materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, DTA-TG, C-13 NMR, SEM, N-2 adsorption (BET) and in situ EIS. It is proposed that a rapid intercalative polycondensation of sucrose forms conventional caramel under these experimental conditions. The most interesting feature of these compounds is their excellent behaviour as precursors of carbon - clay nanocomposites, presenting attractive characteristics as environmental friendly porous materials of low cost provided with electrical conductivity.