Process for preparing nanocomposite, composition and article thereof

A process of preparing a nanocomposite comprised of a functionalized diene-based elastomer and a 2:1 layered clay comprises blending:

• (A) an aqueous dispersion of a functionalized diene-based elastomer having a Tg in a range of about −120° C. to about +10° C. and a number average molecular weight in a range of about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 g/mole, wherein said functionalized diene-based elastomer is selected from functionalized polyisoprene, functionalized polybutadiene, functionalized copolymers of styrene with at lest one of isoprene and 1,3-butadiene, and styrene-butadiene-glycidal methacrylate terpolymer, and
• (B) a particulate 2:1 multi-layered swellable silicate clay;
• wherein
• said functionalized elastomer and styrene-butadiene-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer are elastomers which contain one or more functional groups as protonated amine modified epoxide groups, wherein said aqueous dispersion has a pH in a range of about 2.5 to about 6.9 and wherein said clay contains at least one cationically exchangeable ion in the galleries between its layers comprised of at least one of sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium ions.