Abstract: The invention relates to clays comprising charge-balancing organic ions wherein at least part of the organic ions are rosin-based ions. The invention further pertains to a hybrid organic-inorganic composite material comprising a polymer matrix and a clay comprising charge-balancing organic ions wherein at least part of the organic ions are rosin-based ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a polyester resin having a gel content of less than 0.45 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyester resin, and a glass transition temperature of between 40 and 70° C., comprising the step of reacting a polyester resin precursor with a chain extender which is different from the building blocks of the polyester precursor resin, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, at a temperature between 170 and 300° C. in a continuous reactor, wherein the polyester resin precursor comprises a functional group present as end group selected from hydroxyl or carboxyl, and optionally a functional group in the polyester resin precursor backbone selected from hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, and carbonate, and the molar ratio of the functional group in the polyester resin precursor backbone to the functional group present as end group is at most 10:1. The invention further pertains to a polyester resin having a gel content of less than 0.