Abstract
Aqueous suspensions of clay particles, such as montmorillonite (MMT) platelets and sepiolite (Sep) rods, tend to form gels at concentrations around 1 vol %. For Sep rods, adsorbing sodium polyacrylate to the surface allows for an isotropic-nematic phase separation to be seen instead. Here, MMT is added to such Sep suspensions, resulting in a complex phase behavior. Across a range of clay concentrations, separation into three phases is observed: a lower, nematic phase dominated by Sep rods, a MMT-rich middle layer, which is weakly birefringent and probably a gel, and a dilute top phase. Analysis of phase volumes suggests that the middle layer may contain as much as 6 vol % MMT. (Figure Presented).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 9290-9295 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Langmuir |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 34 |
Early online date | 11 Aug 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2015 |
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Dr Jeroen S Van Duijneveldt
- School of Chemistry - Honorary Reader in Physical Chemistry
Person: Honorary and Visiting Academic