A slurry composition comprising: a base oil; a nonionic surfactant; a hydrophilic polymer; and a mixed branched alkyl organoclay composition comprising: a phyllosilicate clay; and a mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, each ion having a formula of [N—R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3R.sup.4].sup.+ wherein, within such mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, one or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is each a mixture of branched alkyl groups, each branched alkyl group having 12 to 22 total carbon atoms, a linear backbone and one or more C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 branching alkyl groups each attached to the linear backbone at a branching carbon position, and within each quaternary ammonium ion and within the mixture of branched alkyl groups, the C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 branching alkyl groups are linked to the linear backbones at different branching carbon positions as a distribution; and wherein when one or more of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is not a branched alkyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are a first linear alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of a second linear alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, and combinations thereof.

A slurry composition comprising: a base oil; a nonionic surfactant; a hydrophilic polymer; and a mixed branched alkyl organoclay composition comprising: a phyllosilicate clay; and a mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, each ion having a formula of [N—R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3R.sup.4].sup.+ wherein, within such mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, one or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is each a mixture of branched alkyl groups, each branched alkyl group having 12 to 22 total carbon atoms, a linear backbone and one or more C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 branching alkyl groups each attached to the linear backbone at a branching carbon position, and within each quaternary ammonium ion and within the mixture of branched alkyl groups, the C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 branching alkyl groups are linked to the linear backbones at different branching carbon positions as a distribution; and wherein when one or more of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is not a branched alkyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are a first linear alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of a second linear alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, and combinations thereof.

A method for preparing a composition including mineral particles functionalized by at least one organic group and having a specific surface defined according to the BET method greater than 500 m.sup.2/g, involves: —choosing a phyllosilicate composition, including mineral particles having a thickness of less than 100 nm, a largest dimension of less than 10 μm and belonging to the family of lamellar silicates; —choosing at least one functionalizing agent, from the group formed from the oxysilanes and oxygermanes having at least one organic group, —bringing the phyllosilicate composition into contact with a functionalizing solution including the functionalizing agent, so as to obtain a phyllosilicate composition including mineral particles functionalized by the organic group, while choosing the organic group from the group formed from the cationic heteroaryl groups, the quaternary ammonium groups and the salts of same. The phyllosilicate composition obtained by the method is also described.

A method for preparing a composition including mineral particles functionalized by at least one organic group and having a specific surface defined according to the BET method greater than 500 m.sup.2/g, involves: —choosing a phyllosilicate composition, including mineral particles having a thickness of less than 100 nm, a largest dimension of less than 10 μm and belonging to the family of lamellar silicates; —choosing at least one functionalizing agent, from the group formed from the oxysilanes and oxygermanes having at least one organic group, —bringing the phyllosilicate composition into contact with a functionalizing solution including the functionalizing agent, so as to obtain a phyllosilicate composition including mineral particles functionalized by the organic group, while choosing the organic group from the group formed from the cationic heteroaryl groups, the quaternary ammonium groups and the salts of same. The phyllosilicate composition obtained by the method is also described.

A method of forming a composition having exfoliated nanoplatelets functionalized with covalently bound surface-modifiers, includes exfoliating a layered nanoclay is exfoliated with a surfactant. The method also includes reacting the exfoliated layered nanoclay with a surface modifier comprising one or more of an epoxide, a silane, or an isocyanate.

Method of converting calcium bentonite to sodium bentonite that is suitable for use as drilling mud or a cement additive. The method comprises preparing a suspension comprising sea water and calcium bentonite at a pH in the range of 8-11, and continuously heating and stirring the suspension for a time in the range of 12 hours to 36 hours. Additives such as soda ash and sodium salt of ethylenediamineteraraacetc acid (EDTA) may be added to the suspension to improve the properties of the product sodium bentonite.

Method of converting calcium bentonite to sodium bentonite that is suitable for use as drilling mud or a cement additive. The method comprises preparing a suspension comprising sea water and calcium bentonite at a pH in the range of 8-11, and continuously heating and stirring the suspension for a time in the range of 12 hours to 36 hours. Additives such as soda ash and sodium salt of ethylenediamineteraraacetc acid (EDTA) may be added to the suspension to improve the properties of the product sodium bentonite.

A method for preparing a composition including mineral particles functionalized by at least one organic group and having a specific surface defined according to the BET method greater than 500 m.sup.2/g, involves: —choosing a phyllosilicate composition, including mineral particles having a thickness of less than 100 nm, a largest dimension of less than 10 μm and belonging to the family of lamellar silicates; —choosing at least one functionalizing agent, from the group formed from the oxysilanes and oxygermanes having at least one organic group, —bringing the phyllosilicate composition into contact with a functionalizing solution including the functionalizing agent, so as to obtain a phyllosilicate composition including mineral particles functionalized by the organic group, while choosing the organic group from the group formed from the cationic heteroaryl groups, the quaternary ammonium groups and the salts of same. The phyllosilicate composition obtained by the method is also described.

A method for preparing a composition including mineral particles functionalized by at least one organic group and having a specific surface defined according to the BET method greater than 500 m.sup.2/g, involves: —choosing a phyllosilicate composition, including mineral particles having a thickness of less than 100 nm, a largest dimension of less than 10 μm and belonging to the family of lamellar silicates; —choosing at least one functionalizing agent, from the group formed from the oxysilanes and oxygermanes having at least one organic group, —bringing the phyllosilicate composition into contact with a functionalizing solution including the functionalizing agent, so as to obtain a phyllosilicate composition including mineral particles functionalized by the organic group, while choosing the organic group from the group formed from the cationic heteroaryl groups, the quaternary ammonium groups and the salts of same. The phyllosilicate composition obtained by the method is also described.

The present invention relates to sheet silicate lamellae of a 2:1 sheet silicate with a high aspect ratio, to a method for producing these sheet silicate lamellae and to an aqueous dispersion which comprises the sheet silicate lamellae. The present invention further relates to the use of the sheet silicate lamellae of the invention for producing a composite material, and also to a corresponding composite material comprising or obtainable using the sheet silicate lamellae, more particularly for use as a diffusion barrier or as a flame retardant.