Mg/Al layered double hydroxide with two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures was synthesized by a hydrothermal technique. The morphology and aspect ratio of Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₄3H₂O were controlled by the concentration and kinds of the hydrolysis agent, and temperature. The aspect ratio of Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₄3H₂O layered double hydroxides with the 2D hexagonal crystal structure was tailored from about 12.6 to about 45.7. The intercalated CO₃^2- anions of the synthesized 2D Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₄3H₂O layered double hydroxides were exchanged to NO₃^- anions. The bulk 2D Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₄3H₂O layered double hydroxides with the increased space between two layers due to the anion exchange were exfoliated in a formamide solution. The aspect ratio of the exfoliated 2D Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₄3H₂O layered double hydroxides increased to 570.3.

This paper presents a study on the dispersion effect of the X-Ray diffraction, glass transition and DIMA properties of organic modifier clay/epoxy nanocomposites produced in a homogenizer. Several experiments were conducted including different types of dispersion condition with varying processing conditions such as homogenizer rotor speed and applied time of homogenizer. The effects of these variables on the dispersion properties of nanocomposites were then studied. In order to fully understand the experimental results, a X-ray diffraction, DSC and DMA were used to investigate the effect of above mentioned variables on microstructure and intercalation/exfoliation of organic modifier clay/epoxy nanocomposites. The results from this work could be used to determine the best processing condition to obtain appropriate levels of d-spacing, glasss transition temperature and storage modulus in organic modifier clay/epoxy nanocomposites.