The applications demonstrated that nanostructured fillers like modified montmorillonites (nanoclays) can reduce weight and lower costs compared with higher loadings of conventional fillers. Additional benefits included improved mechanical properties, scratch resistance, barrier properties, flame retardants and improved processing.
Highlights from the conference involved masterbatches that disperse nanoclays more efficiently, improved compounding possibilities, a new infrared test method to measure the dispersion of nanoclays, new synthetic nanofillers, reports on PVC- and PE nanocomposites and unwanted side-reactions by nanoclays.
Süd-Chemie reported that compounding and processing is > 50 % of success. Therefore they cooperate with masterbatch producers like Dolder AG in Basle, Switzerland and Keng & Keng, Taipei, Taiwan.
Karl Kamena from Southern Clay gave a overview about nanoclays and few applications of nanocomposites for the automotive industry and tyre industry. InMat Inc. is using Southern Clay's nanoclays to produce coatings for the packaging industry.