Concepedia

Abstract

Abstract Differential infrared spectra of films of Al‐montmorillonite matched with films of Al‐montmorillonite with artificially introduced hydroxy‐aluminum interlayers showed the interlayer to give absorption bands at 3,695 cm ‐1 and 3,570 cm ‐1 of nearly equal intensity. The pleochroism of the 3,695 cm ‐1 band indicated an orientation of many of the hydroxyls normal to the oxygen surface of the montmorillonite. The nonpleochroic nature of the 3,570 cm ‐1 band indicated an orientation at a moderate angle to the oxygen surface for the balance of the interlayer hydroxyls. A decrease in frequency from 3,695 cm ‐1 to 3,670 cm ‐1 and an increase from 3,570 cm ‐1 to 3,600 cm ‐1 upon drying can be explained by dehydration and by a closer association of the high frequency hydroxyls (3,695cm ‐1 ) with the oxygen surface of the clay. A single ring, six aluminum, polymer lying planar in the interlayer position would be expected to have the structural requirements to satisfy the observations in the 1.5:1 OH/Al interlayer system.