Preparation and performance of synthetic organoclays

A new type of organoclays was synthesized by a novel one-step-synthesis procedure using urea decomposition. The resulting organophilic material is a highly crystalline smectite with stevensite structure and dimethyl octadecylammonium cations in the interlayer and zinc cations within the layers. The stacking number of the layers is low, which facilitates exfoliation in olefinic polymers. Nanocomposites of low density polyethylene, without maleic anhydride modification, and 5% of the organoclay showed an increased thermal stability. The new organo-Zn-stevensite is capable of exfoliation, as observed with XRD and TEM, improving the properties of polymers without the need for maleic anhydride.