METHOD OF PRODUCING, COATING AND MODIFYING CLAY MINERALS WITH MATRIX POLYMERS, THUS PRODUCED POWDER CONCENTRATE AND POLYMERIC NANOCOMPOSITES PRODUCED FROM SAID CONCENTRATE

摘要

A method is disclosed for producing, coating and functionalising mineral clays, as well as the use of same to produce polymeric nanocomposites and products thereof. The method is used to produce coated mineral clays and composites thereof with polar and apolar polymers. The invention is based on the drying in appropriate conditions of a colloidal clay suspension in the presence of one or more polar polymers that are soluble in the solvent used. The drying process consists in spraying in order to generate a mist of droplets of the material composed of nanoparticles and coating polymers, followed by solvent removal by evaporation. The thus produced material, which is composed of coated nanoparticles, can be readily dispersed in both polar and apolar matrices, such as polyethylene, inter alia.