Influence of high-frequency microwave radiation on montmorillonite structure parameters

Abstract

Abstract Influence of microwave radiation on structure changes of montmorillonite particles was studied on a montmorillonite clay sample. Multi-scale long-range processes were induced in the nature-occurring aluminosilicates by microwave radiation of low and medium power (2.45 Hz, 750 W, 10 min). Powdered samples treated with microwave radiation demonstrated reduction of the relative intensity of diffraction peaks and reduction of interplanar spacing of montmorillonite lattice (d001 * from 1.220 to 0.945 nm, d001 from 0.642 to 0.627 nm, d002 from 0.318 to 0.314 nm and d003 from 0.214 to 0.213 nm). The effect was due to extraction of water molecules contained in three-layer packages. Water extraction occurred stepwise with the temperature rise which pointed on long-range processes with a delayed effect. Heating of powdered samples up to 200 °С resulted in the destruction of half of the montmorillonite lattice volume; at 400 °С about 70% of the lattice was destroyed. Fragments of lattice cells formed agglomerates via two-step mechanism. The degree of agglomeration was proportional to the montmorillonite sample amorphicity.