The synthesis and characterization of a series of organosilicon sheet polymers from the naturally occurring mineral apophyllite, KCa₄Si₈O₂₀(F,OH)∙8H₂O, has been carried out.  In this series the pendant siloxy groups grafted to the silicate backbone were R(CH₃)₃SiO (R = 1,4,6,10 or 18 carbon chain).  The intersheet spacings were determined by X-ray powder diffraction and were found to correlate with the pendant group chain length.  Multiple pendant group polymers were also synthesized, where a pendant group with a short polar chain, such as (NCC₃H₆)(CH₃)₂SiO, was grafted to the backbone in conjunction with a long carbon-chain-containing pendant group.  One example of such a polymer is [((C₆H₁₃)(CH₃)₃SiO)_x((NCC₃H₆)(CH₃)₂SiO)_y(OH)_1-x-ySiO_1.5]_n,

A--HEM₂-CM₂.  These sheet polymers have been found to form gels with both polar and non-polar solvents; the sheets in these gels are well separated (as characterized by X-ray powder diffraction).  The index of refraction of the sheet polymers can be determined by the indexes of refraction and opacities of the polymer/solvent gels, and can be controlled by the choice of pendant groups on the polymer. 

The multiple functional groups on the silicate backbone create a system in which the silicate layers can be easily exfoliated in non-polar fluids and also allow for further reactivity including hydrosilylation.  A--HEM₂-CM₂ was processed by gelling it with an organic solvent, lyophylization of the gel, and the processed A--HEM₂-CM₂ was mixed with the silicone polymer and sonicated.  This method avoided mechanical mixing and gave nanocomposite monoliths in which the silicate filler was very well dispersed.