Montmorillonite (MMT) was modified through intercalative polymerization of phenol and formaldchyde catalyzed by oxalic aeid. The modified montmorillonite was delaminated at large, as demonstrated by XRD and TEM studies. It can disperse easily in epoxy resin to form exfoliated nanocomp osites. The nanoscale silicate platclets dispersed in water can be metallized by silver deposition.