Fabric Investigation of Natural Sensitive Clay from 3D Nano- and Microtomography Data

The three-dimensional (3D) fabric in natural sensitive clay is quantified from a combination of high resolution nano and microtomographies, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering. Although the speckle arising particles pores they enclose discerned nanotomography data compare well with microscopy (SEM) images on same clay, individual platelet-shaped cannot be segmented for subsequent quantitative analysis. Regardless, very wide range particle sizes—0.1–300 μm—was detected using current state-of-the-art imaging postprocessing. measured aspect ratios was 2.5±1; hence, identified were not platelets but, rather, mechanically weathered embedded matrix. Furthermore, smaller sizes <80 μm presented consistent 22–23° deviation orientation horizontal plane, whereas larger fractions had orientation. latter finding agrees prior findings inclination minerals small angle X-ray Finally, mean size 450 nm determined corroborated by an independent determination