Formation of an Inorganic‐Organic Host‐Guest Material by Intercalation of Acetone Formaldehyde Sulfite Polycondensate into a Hydrocalumite Structure

Abstract

AbstractAn acetone formaldehyde sulfite based polycondensate (Mw ~ 64 kDa), which is commonly used as a superplasticizer in cement and concrete, was intercalated into a hydrocalumite type LDH structure. Preparation was done by controlled rehydration of tricalcium aluminate in the presence of the polymer. Formation of the LDH phase was confirmed by XRD, IR spectroscopic and TG measurements. Elemental composition of the organo‐mineral phase reveals charge balancing of the cationic LDH main layers by the polycondensate and OH– ions. Low crystallinity observed by XRD and presence of LDH foils was verified by SEM images. There, the novel Ca‐Al‐LDH phase shows a morphology of intergrown platelets which is typical for layered calcium aluminate hydrates. Depending on the preparation method, ultra‐thin foils with 20 nm–50 nm thickness were observed. TEM images also support presence of a layered structure.