Clay Minerals and Polymers: From Soils to Nanocomposites

Abstract

The interactions of clay minerals with humic substances and synthetic organic polymers have beeninvestigated for more than five decades. More recently, the focus of attention hasshifted to the synthesis and development of clay-polymer ‘nanocomposites’. Since the nanometer-thick silicatelayers are more or less uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix, these novel hybrid materials display superior mechanical, optical, thermal, andgas barrierproperties. Here we utline the principles and practice of the clay-humic and clay-polymer interaction, with particular reference to work done in our laboratory. Because of space limitations only the important findings and concl usions will be presented. As far as is possible, we will also refer to key papers and reviews, rather than citeindi vidual authors.