Fully exfoliated layered silicate epoxy nanocomposites are reported in this article. The processing route that resulted in these fully exfoliated layered silicate epoxies is based on a combination of high-shear mixing in the presence of acetone and ultrasonication. Homomogeneous and random dispersion of the individual silicate nanolayers in the epoxy is confirmed through transmission electron microscopy images spanning low to high magnification as well as by X-ray diffraction. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.