Abstract
Electroconductive hydroxy-sodalite/graphite composites were synthesized by alkali-activation of kaolinite in the presence of sodium hydroxide as the alkali activator and graphite as a conductive filler. Thermal, morphological and microstructural properties in addition to direct current (D.C.) conductivity of the prepared composites were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflection mode (FTIR/ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive using X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX) and DC conductivity measurements were used to characterize the prepared composites. The effect of the hydroxyl-sodalite-to-graphite and NaOH-to-kaolinite ratios on the electrical conductivity was investigated and evaluated on the generated composite specimens made of Jordanian kaolinite or pure kaolinite. It was demonstrated that increasing the mass ratio of graphite-to-kaolinite in the clay-based composites increased the electrical conductivity of the resultant composites. It was also observed that using 1:1 graphite-to-pure kaolinite mass ratio showed the best electrical conductivity value of 3 × 10-3 s/cm, among the other mass ratios used for pure kaolinite specimens, while using 1:1 mass ratio of graphite-to-Jordanian kaolinite showed a conductivity of 1.6 s/cm.
Highlights
Inorganic polymers are macromolecules comprising of inorganic elements as part of their skeletal structure or as pendent functionality within a dimensional skeletal structure [1]
The effect of the hydroxyl-sodalite-to-graphite and NaOH-to-kaolinite ratios on the electrical conductivity was investigated and evaluated on the generated composite specimens made of Jordanian kaolinite or pure kaolinite
It was demonstrated that increasing the mass ratio of graphite-to-kaolinite in the clay-based composites increased the electrical conductivity of the resultant composites
Summary
Inorganic polymers are macromolecules comprising of inorganic elements as part of their skeletal structure or as pendent functionality within a dimensional skeletal structure [1]. Hydroxy-sodalite is a crystalline form of aluminosilicate network comprising of diverse ordered channels, sizes and infinite structures [4] [8] This particular channel-like structure is responsible for many applicable properties of the H-SOD, such as molecular sieving [9], catalytic activities [10], ion exchange [11], and high selectivity for adsorption [12] [13]. Conductive clay-based materials are acquiring a substantial debate due to their superior properties over their metallic electroconductive analogues [15] [20] They have attracted great attention in many industrial and scientific areas because of their high chemical, thermal and wear resistances and high mechanical strength as compared to the traditional metal-based electroconductive materials. The effect of the hydroxyl-sodalite-to-graphite and NaOH-to-kaolinite ratios on the electrical conductivity was investigated and evaluated on the generated composite specimens made of Jordanian kaolinite or pure kaolinite
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