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Surface Layer Types of Kaolinite: A High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

Chi Ma  and
Richard A. Eggleton
Chi Ma*
Affiliation:
Cooperative Research Center for Landscape Evolution and Mineral Exploration, Department of Geology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Richard A. Eggleton
Affiliation:
Cooperative Research Center for Landscape Evolution and Mineral Exploration, Department of Geology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
*
†Present address: Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125.
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Abstract

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) examinations have indicated that three types of surface layers may exist in natural kaolinite crystals. Type 1 has the expected 7-Å surface layer as terminations. Type 2 has one 10-Å pyrophyllite-like (or low-charge beidellite-like) layer as the surface layer on one side of a kaolinite particle (i.e., the layer sequence is TOTOTO … TOTOTOT, where T stands for tetrahedral sheet, O for octahedral sheet). Some industrial-grade highly-ordered kaolinites have such a 10-Å 2:1 surface layer on one side of the crystal. The spacing between the 10-Å layer and the adjacent 7-Å layer is not expandable. Type 3 kaolinite has one or several 10-Å collapsed smectite-like layers at one or both sides of a stack, i.e., (TOT)TOTO … TOTOTOT(TOT), forming a special kind of kaolinite-smectite interstratification. This type has only been recognized in some poorly-ordered kaolinites. The surface smectite layer(s) contribute to higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) values. These 10-Å surface layers were not detectable by X-ray diffraction (XRD). HRTEM and electron diffraction examination also revealed the structural features of individual kaolinite crystals. All kaolinites (from various origins and sources) studied show C-face-centering Of non-hydrogen atoms. Defects within the layer structure are common in both well-ordered kaolinite and poorly-ordered kaolinite.

Keywords

2:1 LayerClaysHRTEMKaolinitePyrophylliteSmectiteSurface Layer
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 47 , Issue 2 , April 1999 , pp. 181 - 191
Copyright
Copyright © 1999, The Clay Minerals Society

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