Ionic liquids based on alkyltriphenyl phosphonium and dialkyl imidazolium cations with long alkyl chains have been synthesized and used as new surfactants for cationic exchange of layered silicates. The influence of the alkyl chain length and the chemical nature of the conteranion or of the cation on the thermal stability of these new intercalating agents and on imidazolium- (MMT-I) or phosphonium(MMT-P) modified montmorillonites have been analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermoplastic nanocomposites based on these modified montmorillonites with a very low amount of nanofillers (1 wt.%) have been processed by melt mixing using a twin screw extruder. The distribution of the clay layers in a high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix was characterized and finally the mechanical and thermal properties of the corresponding nanocomposites were determined. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.