Patent ID: 8178194

Claim:
A surface treated clay film comprising: a clay as a main component; an additive, which is present in an amount of 30 wt. % or less; and a reinforcing material, which is present in an amount of 1-10 wt. %, wherein the additive is present and is one or more additives selected from the group consisting of an ethylene glycol, a glycerin, an epsilon-caprolactam, a dextrin, a starch, a cellulose-based resin, a gelatin, an agar, a flour, a gluten, an alkyd resin, a polyurethane resin, an epoxy resin, a fluororesin, an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, a phenolic resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyimide resin, a polyvinyl resin, a polyethylene glycol, a polyacrylamide, a polyethylene oxide, a protein, a deoxyribonucleic acid, a ribonucleic acid, a polyamino acid, a phenolic compound, and a benzoic acid compound, wherein the reinforcing material is one or more reinforcing materials selected from the group consisting of a mineral fiber, a glass wool, a ceramic fiber, a plant fiber, a carbon fiber, and an organic polymer fiber, wherein a surface of the surface treated clay film has been subjected to one or more surface treatments selected from the group consisting of a water repellency treatment, a waterproofing treatment, a reinforcing treatment and a surface flattening treatment, wherein the surface treated clay film has tensile strength and is self-supporting, wherein the surface treated clay film has flexibility, with a bending resistance of less than 8.0 mN, and wherein the surface treated clay film has heat resistance and gas impermeability, with a gas permeability coefficient with respect to air, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, hydrogen gas or helium gas of less than 1×10 −12 cm 2 s −1 cmHg −1 at room temperature.