Membranes from Nylon 6/Regional Bentonite Clay Nanocomposites

Abstract

In this work, it was produced hybrids organic/inorganic membranes of nylon6 and clay mineral constituted of silicate layers, from the interior of the Paraiba. The sodic clay was used in the untreated and treated (with quaternary ammonium salts) form (to become compatible with polymer). Commercial salts Genamin and Cetremide were used to prepare organoclay by cationic exchange reaction in aqueous phase. The nanocomposites were obtained by melt intercalation and from these nanocomposites it was synthesized the membranes for dissolution in predetermined amounts of formic acid and a precipitation in a non-solvent, also called immersion-precipitation technique to prepare thin films. Thus, on the basis of the results, it can be observed that the presence of the treated and untreated clay confer a significant alteration in the structure/morphology of the pores and the porosity of the membrane.