Nanofilled polymeric matrices have demonstrated remarkable mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. In this article we review the processing of carbon nanotube, graphene, and clay montmorillonite platelet as potential nanofillers to form nanocomposites. The various functionalization techniques of modifying the nanofillers to enable interaction with polymers are summarized. The importance...

The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra and the natural and gamma-induced thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves of a series of variably cation-exchanged Fe-Ca-clays prepared from SWy-1 montmorillonite were examined. The ESR signal (g = 2) intensity associated with the surface Fe was found to increase linearly with surface Fe content up to a nominal concentration of 50% exchangeable Fe. At > 5...

Given a montmorillonite clay at high porosity and saturated by monovalent counterions, the particle level responses of the clay to different external loadings are investigated. As analytical solutions are not possible for complex arrangements of particles, computational micromechanical models are employed (based on solution of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations) using the finite element method...

The cotransport of clay colloids and viruses in vertically oriented laboratory columns packed with glass beads was investigated. Bacteriophages MS2 and ΦX174 were used as model viruses, and kaolinite (ΚGa-1b) and montmorillonite (STx-1b) as model clay colloids. A steady flow rate of Q=1.5 mL/min was applied in both vertical up (VU) and vertical down (VD) flow directions. In the presence of KGa-...

Retention of heavy metal ions on soil mineral surfaces is an important process for maintaining environmental quality. A thorough understanding of the kinetics and mechanisms of heavy metal sorption on soil mineral surfaces is therefore of fundamental importance. The present study examines the kinetics and mechanisms of Ni(II) sorption onto pyrophyllite, kaolinite, gibbsite, and montmorillonite....

Nanocomposites with nanofillers of reactive montmorillonite covalently-bonded with barium titanate G. Polizos, V. Tomer, E. Manias, and C. A. Randall Polymer Nanostructures Laboratory, Center for the Study of Polymeric Systems (CSPS) and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Center of Dielectric Studies (CDS)...

The role of catalysis in prebiotic synthesis is illustrated using the montmorillonite clay catalyzed synthesis of RNA oligomers. Reaction of activated monomers of nucleotides in pH 8 aqueous solution containing Mg2þ in the presence of montmorillonite yields 6–14 mers. The reaction takes place at the clay interlayer. The catalyst controls the synthesis of RNA oligomers in that a limited number o...

Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets obtained by exfoliating inorganic layered crystals have emerged as a new class of materials with unique attributes. One of the critical challenges is to develop robust and versatile methods for creating new nanostructures from these 2D-nanosheets. Here we report the delamination of layered materials that belonging to two different classes--the cationic clay, mont...

Reactions of organic molecules on Montmorillonite clay mineral have been investigated from various aspects. These include catalytic reactions for organic synthesis, chemical evolution, the mechanism of humus-formation, and environmental problems. Catalysis by clay minerals has attracted much interest recently, and many reports including the catalysis by synthetic or modified clays have been pub...

The antibacterial activity of silver and cationic surfactant modified smectites from North Patagonian, Argentina, were tested in growth inhibition of Escherichia coli bacteria by the test of susceptibility on solid medium. The exchange reactions were carried out using Ag and hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) cations in larger amounts than those conventionally required to form monolayer on the ...