Porous clay heterostructures (PCH) based on modified montmorillonite were synthesized using different reaction conditions (different hydration degrees, pH values and reaction times). The PCH precursors and PCH were characterized using FTIR Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffractions (XRD). The XRD results showed that basal distance of porous clay heterostructures was significantly influenced by the mod...

The effects of surface-functionalized Na+-montmorillonite nanoclay particles on the flexural behavior of E-glass fiber-reinforced aluminum (GLARE) laminates were investigated. The nanoclay particles were subjected to surface functionalization using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylamine to increase their compatibility with the epoxy matrix and improve their dispersion within the matrix. Expe...

Bentonites of various types are being investigated in many countries as backfill materials in high-level radioactive waste disposal concepts. Being able to understand the chemistry of the porewater in compacted bentonite is very important since it is critical to predicting radionuclide solubilities and to the synthesis of sorption data bases, and hence to repository safety studies. In this pape...

Although tremendous effort has been focused on enhancing the mechanical properties of nacre-mimetic materials, conservation of high stiffness and strength against hydration-induced decay of mechanical properties at high humidity remains a fundamental challenge in such water-borne high-performance materials. Herein, we demonstrate that ionic supramolecular bonds, introduced by infiltration of di...

Surfaces of a Wyoming SWy-2 sodium montmorillonite were modified using microwave radiation through intercalation with the cationic surfactants octadecyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide, dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide, and methyl-tri-octadecyl ammonium bromide by an ion exchange mechanism. Changes in the surfaces and structure were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (T...

The liquid phase esterification of phenyl acetic acid with p-cresol over different metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclays yields p-cresyl phenyl acetate. Different metal cation exchanged montmorillonite nanoclays (M n+ = Al3+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Cu2+) were prepared and the catalytic activity was studied. The esterification reaction was conducted by varying molar ratio of the reactants,...

A series of montmorillonite-(Ce or Zr) phosphate crosslinked compounds has been synthesized by reaction of a cerium or zirconium cation exchanged montmorillonite (diameter ~2 pm) with phosphoric acid under appropriate conditions of concentration, addition rate and temperature. The materials thus obtained were characterized by chemical and thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and...

The midinfrared 2000-400 cm-1 (5-25 /an) optical constants (real (n) and imaginary (k) indices of refraction) are presented for: (1) pyrophyllite; (2) kaolinite; (3) serpentine; (4) montmorillonite; (5) saponite; (6) palagonite; and (7) orthopyroxene. Comparison of the values derived here with those previously presented for serpentine, montmorillonite, and palagonite is generally quite good and...

-Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor both molecular interactions and concentrations of volatile organic chemicals adsorbed on a commercial montmorillonite. Chemicals tested included propanoic acid, hexanal, heptanal, trimethylamine, dimethylsulfide and dimethyldisulfide. Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy had several advantage...