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Role of Clay-Solvent Inter and Intraparticle Interactions on Swelling Characteristics of Montmorillonite Nano-Meso-Micro Scale Particulate Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Dinesh R. Katti ,
Kalpana S. Katti  and
Vijayakumar Shanmugasundaram
Dinesh R. Katti
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering, CIE 201, North Dakota State University, Fargo ND 58105, USA
Kalpana S. Katti
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering, CIE 201, North Dakota State University, Fargo ND 58105, USA
Vijayakumar Shanmugasundaram
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering, CIE 201, North Dakota State University, Fargo ND 58105, USA
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Abstract

This paper deals with fundamental molecular issues related to macroscopic mechanical properties of nano-meso-microscale montmorillonite clay particulate systems. Molecular interaction of high aspect montmorillonite particles with solvents has large influence on resulting swelling characteristics in clays consisting of montmorillonite. A new controlled uniaxial swelling (CUS) cell is designed which allows a simultaneous measurement of swelling and swelling pressure in addition to ease of removal of undisturbed samples for electron microscopic and fourier transform infrared spectroscopic investigations. Our work shows that the swelling behavior of montmorillonite directly results from breakdown of large particles to smaller nano and meso scale particles with increased water incorporation in the interlayers. The Si-O vibration band regions of the montmorillonite spectra obtained at controlled amounts of swelling from 0-100% (where 0% swelling is defined as fully saturated samples under no volume change) show changes in band shape, intensity, and positions resulting from increased H-bonding in the interlayers and surface of montmorillonite particles. In addition, orientation dependant micro-attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopic investigations are also conducted on the controlled swelled samples. Our results indicate that the reduced particle size with increased swelling is related to increased misorientation of the montmorillonite platelets. The relationship between molecular interactions microstructure and macroscopic response (swelling and swelling pressure) is the key to development of novel nanocomposite systems based on montmorillonite with tailored properties.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 704: Symposium W – Nanoparticulate Materials , 2001 , W9.14.1
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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