Patent ID: 8912265

Claim:
A method to produce a nano-composite that comprises a thermoplastic olefin (TPO) polymer and an exfoliated organoclay, the method comprising: contacting at least one molten TPO polymer with at least one organoclay by mixing the organoclay with the molten TPO polymer; dispersing the organoclay within the molten TPO polymer to obtain a molten TPO polymer/organoclay blend; adding at least one exfoliating agent of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (H-TEMPO) or an amine precursor to H-TEMPO to the molten TPO polymer/organoclay blend; mixing the exfoliating agent with the TPO polymer/organoclay blend by mechanical shearing such that the exfoliating agent exfoliates the organoclay; and forming a nano-composite having delaminated organoclay, wherein the organoclay is present in an amount from 0.125 to 0.25 wt % based on the total weight of the nano-composite.