The large propagation of nanotechnology in modern times requires more studies to meet their specific development. For obtaining good properties of polymer/clay nanocomposites more comprehensive studies on the thermal stability of surfactants in the processing temperatures of these materials are necessary. In this work, the thermal stability of four quaternary ammonium salts such as hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, esthearildimethyl ammonium chloride and hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride was evaluated for their intercalation into national bentonite clay, with the aim to enable organophilic for using in polymer nanocomposites. The salts were thermally characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetryunder Ar and N2. The results indicate that the salts based on chloride ion degraded at similar temperatures and the based on the bromide anion degraded at higher temperature. Besides, these studies indicated that the esthearildimethyl ammonium chloride salt may be successful in obtaining as surfactant for the use in nanocomposite.
nanocomposites; organoclays; quaternary ammonium salts; thermal stability
