Modification of Brazilian Bentonite Clay for Use Nano-Biocomposites

摘要

Biopolymers are a growing research issue since they appear as a solution to the emerging environmental concerns that have risen in recent years. They represent an interesting alternative to synthetic polymers for a short-life range of applications. Recently, great attention has been paid to the association between biopolymers with nano-sized fillers, in particular, to those in which layered silicates are dispersed at a nanometric level in a biopolymer matrix. Surch materials called nano-biocomposites. In this work, Brazilian bentonite clay was organophilized with three organic intercalants by ion-exchange reactions for use in nano-biocomposites. The clay was characterized by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetry (TG). The XRD results confirmed the increased spacing basal because the presence of intercalant molecules in the clay, too confirmed by FTIR. The organoclay showed greater weight loss than the clay without modification. The structure had produced nano-biocomposites exfoliated and/or partially exfoliated.