Ferrititanate nanosheets with lepidocrocite-like structure were synthesized from a low cost precursor (ilmenite sand) through alkaline hydrothermal route. Two types of nanosheets with high and low-sodium content were obtained: a) sodium rich nanosheets (NaLTs) and b) protonated nanosheets (pLTs), obtained by a rapid acid-exchange reaction at room temperature. The cation exchange capacities of both types of nanosheets were determinated according ASTM C 837. After the synthesis of these two nanomaterials with different sodium levels, it was studied the exfoliation process to obtain monolayers of nanometric lateral dimensions under intensive stirring at 60 C, using dimethyldioctadecylammonium cloride (2C18) as the exfoliating agent of the lepidocrocite-like ferrititanate nanosheets for the first time, aiming the further application of the exfoliated nanosheets as reinforcement in polymer matrix nanocomposites. The purpose of the addition of these nanofillers within a polymer matrix is to obtain a more homogeneous dispersion of exfoliated nanosheets, as well as the improvement of the compatibility between nanofillers and the polymer matrix, due to the presence of the organic groups from 2C18, chemically attached to nanosheets and hence, to promote the an increase on mechanical and thermal properties of the polymeric matrix. Depending on the sodium content, it was obtained exfoliated and/or intercalated nanosheets that were further characterized by flame photometry, infrared spectroscopy, specific surface area by N2 adsorption, thermogravimetry, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For the manufacturing of nanocomposites two types of matrices were used: a) neat high density polyethylene (HDPE) and b) HDPE with the addition of a low percentage of polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA). Pristine nanosheets (pLTs) and exfoliated nanosheets (pLTs-O-2C18) were used as nanofillers at loadings of 1.0; 2.0 and 4.0 wt percent. Finally, we assessed the mechanical and thermal properties of the as-prepared nanocomposites through tensile tests, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dilatometry. Nanocomposites prepared with pristine pLTs and those manufactured with the addition of PE-g-MA coupling agent showed an increase on the Young modulus of about 12,8 percent and 5,1 percent for loadings of 4wt percent and 2 wt percent of pristine pLTs, respectively. The nanocomposites that present the highest increase on yield stress were reinforced with 4 wt percent of exfoliated nanosheets (pLTs-o-2C18). However, these materials presents a decrease in the Young modulus of about 12 percent. The nanocomposites with the highest increase on Young Modulus were those prepared with 4 wt percent of pristine ( about 12,8 percent), and the yield stress was also improved (increase of about 4 percent). The incorporation of nanosheets did not affect significantly the thermal stability properties of the matrix and a decrease on the coefficient of thermal expansion was solely observed for nanocomposites prepared with pristine pLTs. The degree of crystallinity decreased for all the manufactured nanocomposites, in the range of about 2,17 t-26 percent for nanocomposites prepared with pristine pLTs and those fabricated with the addition of PE-g-MA, respectively. up to about pLTs with the addition of PE-g-MA.