Recently, numerous new synthetic approaches have been used to develop macromolecular materials that “self-assemble” into nano-scale morphologies. This lecture addresses another approach – the solventless “forced-assembly” of extrudable synthetic polymers down to the nano-scale. Numerous commercial films currently available, used primarily in food packaging, have only a few layers. These films have a desirable mix of end-use characteristics. Layer-multiplying devices permit polymers with dissimilar solid state structures and properties to be combined into unique microlayer and nanolayer systems with thousands of layers. Studies of these layered polymer composites down to the nano-scale have revealed unique properties which are only achievable when the layers are thin enough to produce synergistic combinations

of key properties of the constituent components. Recently, a new highly flexible continuous process for creating unique nanofibers by a related solventless co-extrusion methodology will also be described with particular emphasis on membrane filters for gaseous and liquid separation systems. 
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