Thermal and Structural Properties of Organically Modified Montmorillonite and its Surface Activated with Hydrochloric Acid

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary results of modified Montmorillonite samples and the surface treatment with hydrochloric acid were investigated. The modification of this Montmorillonite surface, negatively charged and exchanged by organic cations such as alkylammoniums (Trimethylexadecyl C16 and Trimethyloctadecyl C18), yields a modified Montmorillonite (MMt). The resulting organo-mineral material acquires an organophilic character which could be used in several applications. The organically modified MMts were prepared by an ion exchange process in which sodium ions were replaced by alkylammonium ions. This material, used in the present work, is an Algerain montmorillonite obtained from MAGHNIA (West Algeria). Octadecyltrimethylammonium and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chlorides, utilized here as surfactants activators to organophilize the Montmorillonite. The microstructure of this modified Montmorillonite was characterized by XRD-diffraction with which the effects of the intercalation associated to the conformation of the long hydrocarbon chain were investigated. The results obtained showed that the amounts of hydrochloric acid added to these modified materials affect considerably the conformation of the intercalated surfactants. Their physical characteristics were determined by infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) and their chemical modification revealed that their thermal properties have been advantageously improved.