Patent ID: 7473729

Claim:
An article of manufacture comprising an acrylic nanocomposite film adhered to a substrate, wherein said acrylic nanocomposite film comprises; (a) a non-elastomeric acrylic polymer; (b) an acid-treated, layered silicate filler material which has an aspect ratio of at least about 25, has not been organically functionalized and is substantially exfoliated; and (c) optionally, one or more additives selected from the group consisting of surfactants, emulsifiers, anti-foaming agents, dispersing agents, wetting agents, leveling agents, thickeners, absorbers and getters, wherein said film comprises the dried residue of an aqueous nanocomposite dispersion of the non-elastomeric acrylic polymer and the layered silicate filler, the aqueous nanocomposite dispersion being a combination of an aqueous dispersion of the acrylic polymer with an aqueous dispersion of the layered silicate filler which has been treated with an acid prior to combination with the aqueous polymer dispersion; wherein further said acrylic nanocomposite film exhibits an oxygen permeability that is at least 50 times less than a like film containing no layered silicate filler material.