The effect of nanoclay content on the mechanism governing nanoclay dispersion was investigated through studying the interaction between nanoclay content and other factors. We hypothesized that at low nanoclay content, the dispersion was diffusion controlled; thus, increasing thermal diffusion and residence time, even when the shear intensity was compromised, were beneficial to nanoclay dispersion. At high nanoclay content, however, at which the process was found to be shear controlled, increasing shear intensity was essential to better dispersion, even when the thermal diffusion and residence time were sacrificed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]