A series of polymer-clay nanocomposite (PCN) materials that consisted of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and layered montmorillonite (MMT) clay were prepared by effectively dispersing the inorganic nanolayers of MMT clay in organic PMMA matrix via an emulsion polymerization. Organic MMA monomers were first intercalated into the interlayer regions of organophilic clay hosts and followed by a convertional emulsion polymerization. The as-synthesized PCN materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PCN coatings with low clay loading (e.g., 1wt-%) on cold-rolled steel (CRS) were found much superior in anticorrosion over those of PMMA based on a series of electrochemical measurements of corrosion potential, polarization resistance, corrosion current and Impedance spectroscopy in 3.5 wt% aqueous NaCl electrolyte. The molecular weights of PMMA extracted from PCN materials and PMMA were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) . Effects of the material composition on the gas barrier propertity,optical clarity and thermal stability of PMMA along with PCN materials, in the form of both free-standing film and fine powder, were also studied by molecular permeability analysis,UV-visible transmission spectroscopy,differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively.