Chapter 13.3 - Fibrous Clay Mineral–Polymer Nanocomposites

This chapter critically reviews polymer and biopolymer nanocomposites based on sepiolite and palygorskite fibrous clay minerals, with the aim to call the attention of clay scientists and engineers to the numerous opportunities that this type of new materials offers. Selected examples illustrate the preparation and main properties of these materials of interest for advanced applications. In addition to CPN prepared from “classical” polymers, bionanocomposites based on the assembly of sepiolite and palygorskite with polymers of biological origin are also introduced in this chapter