Patent ID: 7442728

Claim:
A method for producing random form of nanosilicate plates, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing amine-terminating Mannich oligomers (AMO) from polyoxyalkylene amine, p-cresol and formaldehyde to obtain a polymeric exfoliating agent having a general formula: wherein n is from 1 to 5; R represents an organic group selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene groups, poly(oxyethylene/oxypropylene) groups, polyoxybutylene groups, and polyoxyethylene groups; wherein said formaldehyde is added at an appropriate addition rate by which the exothermic temperature is kept in the range of 25° C. to 160° C.; (b) adding inorganic acid to said AMO to form an acidified AMO; (c) mixing said acidified AMO with a swelled inorganic layered silicate clay so as to exfoliate said silicate clay directly through cationic exchange to form an exfoliated silicate clay; and (d) mixing an aqueous solution containing a hydroxide or a chloride of alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal, ethanol, water and an organic solvent with said exfoliated silicate clay obtained in step (c) to form a mixture and then, after mixing, keeping the mixture static to form an upper organic phase and a lower water phase containing nanosilicate plates.