	US 7,354,967 B2
	Method for minimizing filler agglomeration
Paula Diane Fasulo, Eastpointe, Mich. (US); William R. Rodgers, Sterling Heights, Mich. (US); Robert Augustine Ottaviani, Anthem, Ariz. (US); and Douglas L. Hunter, Harwood, Tex. (US)
Assigned to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich. (US); and Southern Clay Products, Inc., Gonzales, Tex. (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/631,489.
Prior Publication US 2005/0027059 A1, Feb. 03, 2005
Int. Cl. C08K 3/34 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 524—425 [524/445]

25 Claims

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.