Patent ID: 7776943

Claim:
A method for forming a nanocomposite polymer by olefin polymerization, comprising: disrupting the layered structure of at least one cation-exchanging layered filler, selected from the group consisting of cation-exchanging, layered inorganic silicates and cation exchanging, layered compounds other than silicates, combining said disrupted filler with an activatable catalyst that becomes activated for olefin polymerization when in contact with the filler; and contacting an olefin with the activated catalyst—filler combination either (a) in the absence of an alkylaluminum co-catalyst or (b) with an alkylaluminum co-catalyst when the activatable catalyst is a polyalkylmetal compound, whereby to form an exfoliated clay-polyolefin nanocomposite incorporating platelets of said treated filler.