Preparation of α-zirconium phosphate nanoplatelets with wide variations in aspect ratios

Synthetic α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) layer structures have been prepared via three different approaches. By controlling the concentration of reactants, temperature, pressure, and using a complexing agent, α-ZrP with a wide variation in aspect ratios has been prepared. Synthetic α-ZrP can be easily intercalated by amines and then exfoliated in epoxy to prepare polymer nanocomposites. Nanocomposites that contain exfoliated α-ZrP nanoplatelets with wide variations in aspect ratios can be utilized as model systems to study the structure–property relationship in polymer nanocomposites.