Patent ID: 8329286

Claim:
A composite material comprising: a. microfibers selected from synthetic microfibers; and b. an elastomer/lamellar clay nanocomposite matrix, wherein said lamellar clay is dispersed and thoroughly mixed within said nanocomposite matrix until intercalated or exfoliated delaminated structures are formed, and wherein said lamellar clay is an organophilic lamellar clay functionalized by means of a reaction with one or more compounds selected from those having general formula (I): (X—R) n Si(—O—R′) p (R″) m (I) wherein n is an integer comprised between 1 and 3, m is an integer comprised between 0 and 2, and p=4−n−m provided that p≧1; R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, aminoalkyl, aminoaryl radicals and corresponding halogenated products, having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms, in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted by X, or RX is a residue deriving from a UV stabilizing molecule, radical absorber or antioxidant, said residue being linked to the silicon atom present in the compound of general formula (I); R′ is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R″ is selected from the group consisting of —H and an alkyl, alcoxyalkyl, alkylamino-alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and X is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —SH, —S − M + , —O − M + , —NHR 1 , epoxide products, —N═C═O, —COOR 1 , halogens, and unsaturated hydrocarbons, M + being a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Li + , Na + , K + and R 1 , a hydrogen atom, and an alkyl radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; the above groups being dyeable.