PROCESS FOR EXFOLIATING ORGANICALLY MODIFIED SHEET SILICATES BY HIGH-PRESSURE DISPERSION

摘要

It is an object of the present invention to specify a process for exfoliating organically modified sheet silicates in which there is at least virtually complete separation of the individual sheet silicate lamellae which form the sheet silicate. This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a process for exfoliating organically modified sheet silicates, in which: a resin component and the sheet silicate are mixed to give a free-flowing mixture; the mixture is subjected to high-pressure dispersion at a pressure of more than 50 bar and a temperature of more than 0°C. In this way, it is possible by the high-pressure dispersion, due to the shear forces thus obtainable at the resin-sheet silicate interface, on decompression of the dispersed mixture from the high pressure to a much lower pressure, for example atmospheric pressure, to detach the individual sheet silicate lamellae from one another and then to have them present in the form of a stable suspension. What is surprising is the fact that it is possible with the abrupt pressure drop to achieve this exfoliation.