Plantic Technologies Limited

Advanced Polymerik Pty. Limited

Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation

Polymers Australia Pty Limited

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Guoxin Li

Graeme Moad

Rudolf Pfaendner

Hendrik Wermter

Kishan Khemani

Robert Shanks

Roshan Tyrrel Anton Mayadunne

Antonietta Genovese

Jana Habsuda

Wasantha Gunaratne

Lance Nichols

George Simon

Edmond Lascaris

George Philip Simon

Katherine Maree Dean

Ezio Rizzardo

Richard Alexander Evans

Armin Schneider

Jonathan Andrew Campbell

Kishan C Khemani

Jonathan Campbell

In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter 'the masterbatch process') and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.

Starch nanocomposite materials

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a talc as a filler, wherein the talc particles have a mean particle size of from 0.4 to 25 &#x3bc;m, and are present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% based on the weight of component (a) and (c) a dispersing agent which is based on a non-ionic surfactant or an amphiphilic statistical, block or comb copolymer, provided that when the synthetic polymer (a) is a polyamide, this is present in an amount of less than 55% based on the weight of (a), (b) and (c).

Dispersing agents in composites

The instant invention discloses a process for the preparation a polyolefin nanocomposite which comprises melt mixing a mixture of a polyolefin, a filler and a non-ionic surfactant.

Process for the preparation of polyolefin nanocamposites

The instant invention discloses a composition, preferably a nanocomposite material, comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a filler selected from a natural or synthetic phyllosilicate or a mixture of such phyllosilicates, preferably in nanoparticles, and (c) a dispersing agent prepared by controlled free radical polymerization (CFRP).

Dispersing agents in nanocomposites

The instant invention discloses a composition, preferably a nanocomposite material, comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a filler such as for example a natural or synthetic phyllosilicate or a mixture of such phyllosilicates, preferably in nanoparticles, and (c) as dispersing agent a polymer based on a long chain alkyl meth(acryte).

Acrylic dispersing agents in nanocomposites

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Mulgrave, Australia

Guoxin Li