Patent ID: 8193270

Claim:
A method of making a nanocomposite comprising: combining components comprising a protected polymer, an activating agent, and a layered silicate, wherein the protected polymer has a backbone and a plurality of protected polar groups pendant from the backbone, wherein the protected polar groups comprise protected carboxyl groups; protected sulfhydryl groups, protected thiocarboxyl groups; protected sulfonyl groups; protected sulfenyl groups; protected amino groups; protected amido groups; protected hydroxyl groups selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl ethers, benzyl ethers, p-methoxybenzyl ethers, 3,4-di-methoxybenzyl ethers, trityl ethers, allyl ethers, benzyl ethers, alkoxymethyl ethers, methoxymethyl ethers, 2-methoxyethoxymethyl ethers, benzyloxymethyl ethers, p-methoxybenzyloxymethyl ethers, silyl ethers, tetrahydropyranyl ethers, methylthiomethyl ethers, esters, and carbonates; or a combination thereof; and deprotecting at least one protected polar group of the protected polymer to form a polar group having a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an N, O, or S atom or a salt thereof, thereby providing a deprotected polymer; forming a composite, wherein the total amount of layered silicate comprises at least 30 percent by weight of the composite and wherein the layered silicate is at least partially intercalated with the deprotected polymer, or the layered silicate is at least partially exfoliated, or both; and mixing the composite with a polymeric resin to provide a nanocomposite.