An elastomeric material nanocomposite having sufficiently low air permeability to be useful as a tire inner liner among other things, can be prepared by dispersing a layered clay material into the elastomer in the form of packets having an average thickness in the range of about 100 .ANG. to about 1400 .ANG.. Accordingly, the present invention provides in one embodiment, a novel composite composition, and in another embodiment, a novel tire inner liner composition.