Brigatti M.F., Galan E. and Theng B.K.G. Structures and mineralogy
of clay minerals // Handbook of Clay Science, Elsevier Ltd., 2006.
Developments in Clay Science, Vol. 1. 19-86 pp.
The authors believe that clays and clay minerals, either as such or after modification,
will be recognized as the materials of the 21st century because they are
abundant, inexpensive, and environment friendly. With that in view, this Handbook
of Clay Science has assembled core information on the varied and diverse aspects
that make up the discipline of clay science, ranging from the fundamental structure
and surface properties of clays and clay minerals to their industrial and environmental
applications.
Clay has been known to, and used by, humans since antiquity. Indeed, clay has
been implicated in the prebiotic synthesis of biomolecules, and the very origins of life
on earth. Clay has also become indispensable to mode living. It is the material of
many kinds of ceramics, such as porcelain, bricks, tiles, and sanitary ware as well as
an essential constituent of plastics, paints, paper, rubber, and cosmetics. Clay is nonpolluting
and can be used as a depolluting agent. Of great importance for the near
future is the potential of some clays to be dispersed as nanometer-size unit particles
in a polymer phase, forming novel nanocomposite materials with superior thermomechanical
properties. The diversity of structures and properties of clays, and their
wide-ranging applications, make it difficult to compile a comprehensive reference
text on clay science.
The authors believe that clays and clay minerals, either as such or after modification,
will be recognized as the materials of the 21st century because they are
abundant, inexpensive, and environment friendly. With that in view, this Handbook
of Clay Science has assembled core information on the varied and diverse aspects
that make up the discipline of clay science, ranging from the fundamental structure
and surface properties of clays and clay minerals to their industrial and environmental
applications.
Clay has been known to, and used by, humans since antiquity. Indeed, clay has
been implicated in the prebiotic synthesis of biomolecules, and the very origins of life
on earth. Clay has also become indispensable to mode living. It is the material of
many kinds of ceramics, such as porcelain, bricks, tiles, and sanitary ware as well as
an essential constituent of plastics, paints, paper, rubber, and cosmetics. Clay is nonpolluting
and can be used as a depolluting agent. Of great importance for the near
future is the potential of some clays to be dispersed as nanometer-size unit particles
in a polymer phase, forming novel nanocomposite materials with superior thermomechanical
properties. The diversity of structures and properties of clays, and their
wide-ranging applications, make it difficult to compile a comprehensive reference
text on clay science.