Abstract
Clay is silicate having plate–like crystal structure, and various clays are available as natural and synthetic products. Clay called smectite is unique in terms of its swelling property and has been used in various industrial applications. One of its uses is polymer clay composites. The added clay is highly dispersed in the polymer matrix at the nano level, thus controlling the properties of the composite. The properties of these composites vary greatly depending on the ratio of the polymer and the clay. When the ratio of clay is high, the composite bears the inherent characteristics of clay, these are, gas barrier property, heat resistance, flame retardancy, and so on. The films of composites containing clay as the main component and their applications are introduced.
