Clay-polyacrylate composites suspension via in situ polymerization

A method of synthesizing a polymeric clay composition for coating, comprising the steps of:

• (i) producing a clay-polyacrylate composite comprising:
• one or more layers of clay intercalated with polyacrylate;
• wherein the one or more layers of clay comprises at least one organosilane coupling agent comprising an acrylate moiety;
• wherein the at least one organosilane coupling agent is attached to a surface of the one or more layers of clay and the polyacrylate is covalently attached to the organosilane coupling agent;
• and
• wherein the polyacrylate consists of a first acrylate monomer and a second acrylate monomer having different solubility, wherein the first acrylate monomer is a hydrophilic acrylate monomer comprising a hydroxyl (—OH) group and the second acrylate monomer is a hydrophobic acrylate monomer which repels water;
• and
• (ii) mixing the clay-polyacrylate composite with a solution comprising a polymer to form the polymeric clay composition, wherein the polymer is miscible with the polyacrylate of the clay-polyacrylate composite.