The bentonitic clays, used as a thickening agent and nanocomposites, cannot be used without a prior treatment for their organic surfaces to become hydrophobic and be dispersed in organic media. These clays after treatment are called organoclays and are usually obtained through the addition of an organophilization agent, usually an ionic, amphoteric or nonionic surfactant. The process of organophilization is composed of several steps, and not always ensures the provision of good quality organoclays; it is important to highlight the process variables and the choice of raw materials to be used. It is here proposed a detailed study of the process variables involved in the dispersion of bentonitic clays, and also looking of the organophilization process related with the apparent and plastic viscosities of clay dispersions with the organophilization efficiency. The organophilization process will be controlled by observing the results of X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry. It was observed through this study that both the process variables involved in the dispersion of the clays and in organophilization's view point characterization, have no great influence on the bentonite clay surfactant incorporation, and influence the clay type and surfactant and the presence sodium as dispersant agent, which is very important to the industrial serviceability of the best processing conditions.
organoclays; surfactants; process variable
