Synthesis and selective IR absorption properties of iminodiacetic-acid intercalated MgAl-layered double hydroxide

An MgAl-NO 3 -layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursor has been prepared by a method involving separate nucleation and aging steps (SNAS). Reaction with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) under weakly acidic conditions led to the replacement of the interlayer nitrate anions by iminodiacetic acid anions. The product was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TG-DTA, ICP, elemental analysis and SEM. The results show that the original interlayer nitrate anions of LDHs precursor were replaced by iminodiacetic acid anions and that the resulting intercalation product MgAl-IDA-LDH has an ordered crystalline structure. MgAl-IDA-LDH was mixed with low density polyethylene (LDPE) using a masterbatch method. LDPE films filled with MgAl-IDA-LDH showed a higher mid to far infrared absorption than films filled with MgAl-CO 3 -LDH in the 7–25 μm range, particularly in the key 9–11 μm range required for application in agricultural plastic films. Intercalation of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) anions in a MgAl-NO 3 -layered double hydroxide host leads to an enhancement of its infrared absorbing ability for application in agricultural plastic films.