Patent ID: 7737211

Claim:
A method for forming a nanocomposite material, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a nanofiller material having polar end groups into an extruder having a polymeric material therein, the introducing being downstream of an area of the extruder wherein the polymeric material has been substantially melted and mixed; introducing an unsaturated shielding material into the extruder having the polymeric material therein, the introducing being downstream of an area of the extruder wherein the polymeric material has been substantially melted and mixed; causing the unsaturated shielding material to chemically react with at least some of the polar end groups, thereby forming a shielded nanofiller material; and grafting the shielded nanofiller material to the polymeric material, thereby forming the nanocomposite material; wherein causing the unsaturated shielding material to react and grafting the shielded nanofiller material to the polymeric material are controlled by monitoring concentration and temperature; and wherein the nanofiller material is substantially exfoliated and wherein the nanocomposite material exhibits enhanced physical properties.