Nanocomposite compositions and methods for making and using same

Abstract

The present invention is directed, in part, to improved nanocomposite compositions and processes for preparing same. In one embodiment, there is provided a process for preparing an aqueous nanocomposite dispersion, wherein the process comprises: providing at least one first ethylenically unsaturated monomer; providing an aqueous clay dispersion comprising an at least partially exfoliated aqueous clay having a first exchangeable cation and, optionally, at least one second ethylenically unsaturated monomer; adding a second cation to said aqueous clay dispersion, wherein at least a portion of the second cation exchanges with at least a portion of the first cation to form a modified aqueous clay dispersion; combining the first ethylenically unsaturated monomer and the modified aqueous clay dispersion; and polymerizing at least a portion of the first or second monomer to form the aqueous nanocomposite dispersion wherein at least one of the first or the second monomers comprises a polar monomer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.