Infrared spectra of water films in the valent oscillation region

Conclusions

• 1. With water film thicknesses of less than 2μ, in the spectral range 3500–3300 cm⁻¹ three clearly expressed maxima are observed, with frequencies of 3520, 2400, and 3320 cm⁻¹, related to hydrogen bond formation, the volume phase, and water molecules excited by the mica crystal surface field.

• 2. The kinetics of the change in the 3520, 3400, and 3320 cm⁻¹ bands with change in film thickness have been studied. It was found that for film thicknesses less than 0.15μ, the 3400 cm⁻¹ band is not resolved, due to masking by the 3520 and 3320 cm⁻¹ bands.

• 3. A method has been proposed for determination of water content in mica by the relationship between water film thickness and integral area of the water band in the region 3500-3300 cm⁻¹.