Recently emerging advancements in montmorillonite polymeric nanoarchitectures and applications

Due to advancements in nanotechnology, there has been continual progression in preparation, characterization, properties and applications of polymeric/clay nanoarchitectures (PCN). This paper elucidates the effect of treated and untreated nanoclay with specially emphasis on montmorillonite reinforcements of polymeric matrices along with elucidation of varying types of PCN. Elucidation of varying modes of classifying naturally occurring clay nanoarchitectures is presented. Differing preparation techniques for PCN synthesis are also elaborated. Herein, varying emerging pathways utilized for nanoclay modification are depicted. Recently emerging approaches for characterization of polymeric/montmorillonite nanoarchitectures are presented with a detailed elucidation on the importance of prevailing nanoarchitectural-property relationship between matrix and reinforcement. Furthermore, the effects of processing approaches on properties and applications of montmorillonite/polymer nanoarchitectures are presented.