A phyllosilicate material is exfoliated by admixture of the phyllosilicate with water, and a
solvent for a water-insoluble
oligomer or
polymer that is sorbed or electrostatically bonded to the inner surfaces of the phyllosilicate platelets after exfoliation of the phyllosilicate. Intercalation and exfoliation can be achieved via contact of the phyllosilicate with an
organic solvent and water to electrostatically bond one or more polar moieties from the
organic solvent to a
metal cation on the
platelet inner surfaces, so that after
evaporation of the water used for intercalation of the
organic solvent between phyllosilicate platelets, the platelets do not then collapse together, but remain exfoliated. After exfoliation of the phyllosilicate, the exfoliated platelets are contacted with a
polymer / carrier composition that includes a water-insoluble
polymer or water-insoluble
oligomer, and a
solvent for the water-insoluble polymer or
oligomer. After exfoliating the phyllosilicate and prior to polymer contact, the individual phyllosilicate platelets are contacted with the polymer / carrier composition to sorb the water-insoluble polymer or water-insoluble oligomer onto one or both surfaces of the exfoliated phyllosilicate platelets and drive off the adhered
solvent.