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Novel wet SEM imaging of organically modified montmorillonite clay dispersions

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Abstract

Rheology and a novel application of wet scanning electron microscopy (WSEM) are performed on organically modified montmorillonite clay dispersions differing in free surfactant content. The dispersion without free surfactant exhibits a higher yield stress and strongly hysteretic rheology. WSEM imaging shows the influence of free surfactant on the quiescent distribution of nano- and microscale organoclay domains. Spatially resolved elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy defines regions consisting primarily of clay silicate versus those that are dominantly solvent. The contrasting images suggest that free surfactant screens attractive van der Waals forces between domains, leading to a more homogeneously distributed but structurally weaker mesoscopic network. WSEM is shown to be a valuable complementary technique in characterizing the network morphology of organoclay dispersions. More broadly, WSEM demonstrates great potential for the direct imaging of the microstructure of other classes of suspensions and particulate gels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA

    J. Li & J.P. Oberhauser

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA

    J.M. Fitz-Gerald

Authors
  1. J. Li
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  2. J.M. Fitz-Gerald
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  3. J.P. Oberhauser
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Correspondence to J.P. Oberhauser.

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PACS

61.16.Bg; 82.70.Uv; 82.70.Dd; 83.60.Pq; 83.80.Hj

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Li, J., Fitz-Gerald, J. & Oberhauser, J. Novel wet SEM imaging of organically modified montmorillonite clay dispersions. Appl. Phys. A 87, 97–102 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-006-3844-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-006-3844-1

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