Exfoliation long-time

TBAOH) was used for the exfoliation process. This process took a long time, about 10 days, to complete the reaction. This is because the exfoliation process is a breakdown process from micrometer sized crystals into sub-nanometer sized sheets. 

The mixing of the nanoparticle with the polymer requires an intercalation process of the macromolecule into the clay galleries gap. This is a diffusion-controlled process that requires long contact times between the polymer and the clay under the pressure produced inside the extruder. The intercalation process leads to the exfoliation of the clay. However, low screw speeds and long residence times in... 

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