In this work, the structure of bentonite clay was modified by ion exchange mechanism using 30%, 60% and 100% of its cation exchange capacity (CEC) with the surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, tetramethylammonium bromide, and trimethylphenylammonium bromide. The organically modified clay samples were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The clays modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide presented the best results and were used for the formation of nanocomposite hydrogels and the systems were characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM and rheological analysis. Thus, it was observed that the systems produced with 100% hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide modified clay presented better properties and nanofiller showed better reinforcement capacity due to the greater interaction between the organophilic clay and the polymeric matrix.