Nanoclays - Cost Effectiveness Versus Conventional Fillers

摘要

Like all" wonder products" , nanoclays will find niches, and will not drive all other fillers off the shelf. Probable commercial uses will be in reduction of permeability to gases - carbonated beverage containers, and barrier films for meat packaging; in fire retardant applications, in combination with non-halogen fire retardants.; and in aerospace applications and electric cars where weight reduction is the primary need. A major drawback is the price - dollar 3.50 /Ib. This makes nanoclays not cost effective in many applications. The majority of the research has been done in nylon, a relatively high cost polymer. Now work is being undertaken in the lower cost commodity plastics where the high cost of nanoclays will be a much more important factor.