Abstract: The invention relates to a process for delamination of a layered silicate in an aqueous medium, wherein in a first step a layered silicate is treated with a delamination agent, and in a second step the thus treated layered silicate is contacted with an aqueous medium, whereby the delamination agent is a compound having exactly one positively charged atom, the positively charged atom being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and phosphorous; contains nf functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups, ether groups, sulfonic acid ester groups and carboxylic acid ester groups, nf being a number from 3 to 10; comprises a total number of carbon atoms nc being from 4 to 12; has a ratio nc/(1+nf) from 1 to 2, wherein nc is the total number of carbon atoms of the delamination agent and nf is the total number of functional groups in the delamination agent as defined under ii.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an at least partially exfoliated clay. The present invention further relates to an at least partially exfoliated clay obtainable by such a method and to a suspension comprising such a clay, as well to the use of such an at least partially exfoliated clay and of a suspension comprising such an at least partially exfoliated clay. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a polymeric composition comprising an at least partially exfoliated clay and/or a suspension comprising an at least partially exfoliated clay.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for delamination of a layered silicate in an aqueous medium, wherein in a first step a layered silicate is treated with a delamination agent, and in a second step the thus treated layered silicate is contacted with an aqueous medium, whereby the delamination agent is a compound having exactly one positively charged atom, the positively charged atom being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and phosphorous; contains nf functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl groups, ether groups, sulfonic acid ester groups and carboxylic acid ester groups, nf being a number from 3 to 10; comprises a total number of carbon atoms nc being from 4 to 12; has a ratio nc/(1+nf) from 1 to 2, wherein nc is the total number of carbon atoms of the delamination agent and nf is the total number of functional groups in the delamination agent as defined under ii.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a hydrophobically modified clay, wherein the clay modifying agent corresponds to a quaternary ammonium based compound. The present invention further relates to a hydrophobically modified clay obtainable by such a method and to a suspension comprising such a clay, as well to the use of such a hydrophobically modified clay and of a suspension comprising such a hydrophobically modified clay. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a polymeric composition comprising a hydrophobically modified clay and/or a suspension comprising a hydrophobically modified clay.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a hydrophobically modified clay, wherein the clay modifying agent corresponds to a quaternary ammonium based compound. The present invention further relates to a hydrophobically modified clay obtainable by such a method and to a suspension comprising such a clay, as well to the use of such a hydrophobically modified clay and of a suspension comprising such a hydrophobically modified clay. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to a polymeric composition comprising a hydrophobically modified clay and/or a suspension comprising a hydrophobically modified clay.