1. A method for minimizing nanofiller agglomeration within a polymeric material, the method comprising the steps of:
introducing, via a smooth gravity stream, the nanofiller at predetermined extrusion processing parameters into an extruder
having the polymeric material therein, the introducing being downstream of an area of the extruder wherein the polymeric material
had been substantially melted and mixed, wherein after the nanofiller introduction into the extruder, the melted polymeric
material has the nanofiller dispersed therewithin substantially without agglomerated nanofiller, wherein the polymeric material
includes a thermoplastic olefin, and wherein the nanofiller includes a smectite clay selected from hectorite, montmorillonite,
bentonite, beidelite, saponite, stevensite, sauconite, nontronite, and mixtures thereof; and
causing the melted polymeric material having nanofiller dispersed therewithin to exit the extruder before substantial nanofiller
agglomeration occurs.
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