QIAN ZHAO: CO2-mediated formation of polymer/clay nanocomposites (Under the direction of Edward T. Samulski) In this thesis, the feasibility of scCO2 as both a processing medium and a polymerization medium for preparation of polymer/clay nanocomposites has been explored, with the first part discussing a CO2-mediated intercalation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in clay. It has been shown that CO2...

Isolated Escherichia coli K-12 cell envelopes or Bacillus subtilis 168 cell walls were reacted with smectite or kaolinite clay in distilled deionized water (pH 6.0); unbound envelopes or walls were separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and the extent of adsorption was calculated. At saturation, both clays adsorbed approximately 1.0 mg (dry weight) of envelopes or walls per mg (d...

A bench work study was carried out to investigate the use of kaolinitic clay containing 29.4% Al2O3 extremely abundant in Saudi Arabia for the production of pure alumina by calcination at 700 o C for 1h (recommended by previous investigators) then leached by hydrochloric acid. The effects of leaching temperature (25 o C to boiling temperature), period of activation (10-150 minutes), acid concen...

The research examines the alteration phenomena of Giglio island granite, a rock quarried by Romans from 3rd century, used for columns in Italian peninsula and later reemployed many Christian religious buildings. study has shown that already bedrock there are small percentages clay minerals. Starting this condition, develops an increase porosity, which turn favours establishment slight hydrolysi...

This study investigated the effects of layered clay on the thermal curing behavior and tensile properties of resole phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin/clay/cellulose nanocomposites. The thermal curing behavior of the nanocomposite was characterized using conventional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature modulated (TMDSC). The addition of clay was found to accelerate resin curing,...

Data returned by NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover showed evidence for abundant secondary materials, including Fe-oxides, phyllosilicates, and an amorphous component on below Vera Rubin ridge in the Murray formation. We used equilibrium thermochemical modeling to test hypothesis that altered sediments were deposited as detrital igneous grains subsequently underwent diagenesis. Chem...

This paper revisits the clay mineralogy of “smectite” alteration zone in Krafla geo-thermal field via study an exploratory well which temperatures range from 40 °C to 215 °C. The consists several mineral assemblages superimposed time and space, resulting different stages water-rock interaction. Trioctahedral minerals (chlorite, corrensite smectite) are observed throughout studied section. These...

The use of clay materials for the production of emulsion paints was investigated. Two types of clay: White tinged with Purple and Smooth clay (WSP) and Grey Brown and Coarse clay (GBC), were used for the production of Emulsion Clay Paints (ECP). Conventional Chemical pigmented Paint (CP) was also produced as a control. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, (AAS) was used to determine the chemical com...

[1] Our understanding of the role of water on Mars has been profoundly influenced over the past several years by the detection of widespread aqueous alteration minerals. Clay minerals are found throughout ancient Noachian terrains and sulfate salts are abundant in younger Hesperian terrains, but these phases are rarely found together in the early Martian rock record. Full alteration assemblages...

Many termite species use clay to build foraging galleries and mound-nests. In some cases clay is placed within excavations of their wooden food, such as living trees or timber in buildings; however the purpose for this clay is unclear. We tested the hypotheses that termites can identify load bearing wood, and that they use clay to provide mechanical support of the load and thus allow them to ea...