Comparative study of ground and sonicated vermiculite

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 39; no. 16-17; pp. 5347 - 5351
• Main Authors: PEREZ-MAQUEDA, Luis A, JIMENEZ DE HARO, Maria C, POYATO, Juan, PEREZ-RODRIGUEZ, José Luis
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.08.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amorphization; Comparative studies; Diffraction patterns; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Grinding; Long range order; Materials science; Mineralogy; Particle size; Particle size distribution; Silicates; Thickness; Ultrasonic processing; Vermiculite; X-ray diffraction; vermiculite; grinding; X-ray diffraction; TEM data; aggregation; grain size; amorphous materials; ultrasonic methods; clay minerals; sheet silicates; silicates; alteration; transmission electron microscopy; soils
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1023/b:jmsc.0000039242.67213.4d

The aim of this work is to compare the effects of grinding and ultrasonic treatment on vermiculite. Sonication produces a drastic change in particle size (mass median particle diameter 2.4 μm, layer thickness 38 nm), while the resulting material is crystalline as assayed by X-ray diffraction patterns. The TEM study shows that the sonicated vermiculite consists of nanometric flakes. On the other hand, grinding produces particles with medium diameter in the range of about 9 μm and very broad particle size distribution. X-ray and TEM studies of ground sample show an important alteration with grinding time. Prolonged grinding of vermiculite produces the loss of long-range order and eventually an amorphous product is obtained. The results show that grinding treatment produces a decrease of particle size, amorphization and agglomeration of the particles, whereas the ultrasound treatment only produces a decrease of particle size.