The material developed by Toyota's researchers was found to have considerably improved properties, as compared to ordinary nylon-6.  With the addition of just 5% (by weight) clay, the following property improvements were observed1:
 
 
  • 40% higher tensile strength
  • 68% higher tensile modulus
  • 60% higher flexural strength
  • 126% higher flexural modulus
  • Heat distortion temperature increased from 65o (nylon-6) to 152oC
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    Other researchers have observed the following properties in other clay nanocomposite systems:
     

        The reason these figures are so impressive is that 5% by weight is a very small loading of clay.  That is, a much larger weight fraction of glass fiber, or other reinforcer, would be needed to achieve this level of performance increase.  Perhaps more impressive is the fact that both strength and toughness are increased.  Usually, increasing tensile strength produces a more brittle material, and toughened materials lose some of their strength.  The addition of clay, though, can increase both.
        How the clay particles achieve these feats is not well understood, yet.  The effect seems to be related to the clay's enormous surface area, and the extent of dispersion of the clay in the matrix.  Their commercial potential has made clay nanocomposites the focus of much current research.  Many different polymer matrices have been reinforced with clay in many laboratories.  Matrices researched include polyamides, epoxy resins, polystyrene, polyurethanes, low molecular weight waxes, polypropylene, poly(N-vinylcarbazole), and more.  As yet, only one clay nanocomposite has been successfully brought into the realm of commercial application, but clay nanocomposites are sure to play a prominent roll in the future of high performance materials.

    Nanocomposites page 1

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    1.  Gilman, Jeffrey W. et al.  Nanocomposites:  A Revolutionary New Flame Retardant Approach.