Poly(vinyl chloride)(PVC) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) were mixed with 5 and 10 wt % of Cloisite Na(1), Cloisite 30B or Cloisite 93A. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized by thermal analysis using a thermogravimetric analyzer which showed that addition of 5 wt % of nanoclay to PVC increased its thermal stability in the sequence: Cloisite Na(+)

Keywords:poly(vinyl chloride);nanoclay;nanocomposite;montmorillonite;electrical conductivity;mechanical properties;exfoliation;intercalation