Polymer-clay nanocomposites

The development of polymer-day nanocomposite materials, in which nanometer-thick layers of clay are dispersed in polymers, was first achieved about 15 years ago. Since then, the materials have gradually become more widely used in applications such as automotive production. The first practical nylon-clay nanocomposite was synthesized by a monomer intercalation technique; however, the production process has been further developed and a compound technique is currently widely used. A polyolefin nanocomposite has,been produced by the compound method and is now in practical use at small volume levels. In this review, which focuses on nylon- and polyolefin-nanocomposites, detailed explanations of production methods and material properties are described. This article contains mainly the authors' work, but aims to provide the reader with a comprehensive review that covers the works of other laboratories too. Lastly, the challenges and directions for future studies are included.