Cluster, glass, and gel formation and viscoelastic phase separation in aqueous clay suspensions

Shalkevich, Andrey; Stradner, Anna; Bhat, Suresh Kumar; Muller, François; Schurtenberger, Peter

doi:10.1021/la062996i

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Journal article

Cluster, glass, and gel formation and viscoelastic phase separation in aqueous clay suspensions

Shalkevich, Andrey Department of Physics and Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Stradner, Anna Department of Physics and Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Bhat, Suresh Kumar Department of Physics and Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials, University of Fribourg, Switzerland - Polymer Science and Engineering Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
Muller, François Department of Physics and Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials, University of Fribourg, Switzerland - Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Austria
Schurtenberger, Peter Department of Physics and Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

27.02.2007

Published in:

Langmuir. - 2007, vol. 23, no. 7, p. 3570 -3580

English We have systematically investigated the phase diagram of clay particles in water to understand the relation between the local and macroscopic properties and the structures of clay suspensions. We focused, in particular, on sodium Cloisite (CNa) particles at concentrations typically used in nanocomposites (concentrations from 1 to 4 wt %) and at an extended range of ionic strengths (10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² M NaCl). The suspensions have been characterized using rheology and a combination of scattering techniques (neutrons, X-rays, and light). We demonstrate the existence of a liquid cluster phase at low clay and intermediate salt concentrations and provide new insight into the nature of the solidlike dispersions at low and high ionic strengths.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Physique

Language