Organophilic clays: characteristics, preparation methods, intercalation compounds and characterization techniques

Clays are materials used since historical periods and nowadays have several applications due to their interesting properties. The surface modification of clays is one area that has received enough attention from researchers because through modification it is possible to prepare new materials and find applications. The purpose of this paper is to present a review on the use of clays for obtaining organophilic clays, especially those used in polymeric nanocomposites. Several studies have been done based on different techniques and process conditions of these materials. The review includes clays of different regions, different modification agents and applications.