Montmorillonite-levan nanocomposites with improved thermal and mechanical properties

- Bacillus sp. levan has a well-defined solution structure and ∼10 MDa molecular weight.
- Good quality MMT-levan nanocomposites can be prepared by controlling T and RH.
- 1 wt% MMT-levan composites have improved thermal stability and sharply increased Tg.
- 5-10 wt% MMT-levan composites show 450% increases in tensile moduli and yield stress.
- The onset of an MMT isotropic-nematic transition may rationalize observed properties.