Nanocompósitos de polietileno/argila bentonita nacional: influência da argila e do agente compatibilizante PE-g-MA nas propriedades mecanicas e de inflamabilidade

high density polyethylene/national bentonite clay nanocomposites were prepared with the melt intercalation technique. the effect of the clay without treatment and clay treated with quaternary ammonium salt cetremide with polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride as coupling agent was evaluated. the systems were characterized by flammability, mechanical and rheological properties, x ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. in general, the results of x ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed partially exfoliated and/or intercalated structures with higher tensile modulus and torque value. the flammability test showed that the addition of clay in the polymer matrix and pe-g-ma reduced the burning rate, indicating an improved flammability resistance of the nanocomposites. in general, the system containing pe-g-ma coupling agent led to partially exfoliated nanocomposites with higher thermal stability than the high density polyethylene matrix. the polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride promoted the exfoliation of clay and adhesion between matrix and filler, thus resulting in enhanced mechanical properties.