Effect of grinding and water vapour on the particle size of kaolinite and pyrophyllite

Abstract

Abstract The increase in specific surface of kaolinite (K) and pyrophyllite (P) induced by dry grinding in an oscillatory mill, proceeded during storage in water vapour. The average particle thickness, δ, changed from 42 nm (K) and 66 nm (P) in the original materials to 12 nm (K) and 20 nm (P) after water sorption (20 days at relative humidity RH = 1.0, at room temperature and pressure) and to similar values of 13 nm (K) and 16 nm (P) after grinding for 10 min (in agreement with some published data). The action of water molecules on ground clays (at the conditions indicated) resulted in a further decrease in δ. In pyrophyllite, prolonged grinding (30 min) and prolonged action of water molecules (36 days) caused a particle collapse. After pre-storing at RH = 0.5 the successive decrease in δ at RH = 1.0 was smaller.