XRD Characterization of Organically Modified Gyrolite

Abstract

Organic modification of layered silicate gyrolite was achieved by ion exchange reaction between the interlayer metal cations and octadecylammonium ions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis were used to estimate and evaluate the influence of modification temperature, octadecylamine purity and gyrolite chemical composition on the efficiency of organic modification of synthetic gyrolite. It was established that long-chain ammonium ions do not change the basic interplanar distance (001) of sodium substituted gyrolite after modification, however, a new crystal structure – organically modified compound of gyrolite and octadecylammonium ions have been formed. It was found that organic chains are located inside silicate layers as intercalated species and outside layers – as complexed species. Otherwise organic modification of pure gyrolite was unsuccessful.