Solid-state NMR characterisation of the thermal transformation of a Hungarian white illite

H-1, Al-27, Si-29 and K-39 solid-state NMR are reported from a Hungarian illite 2:1 clay for samples heated up 1600 degrees C. This single-phase sample has a small amount of aluminium substitution in the silica layer and very low iron-content (similar to 0.4wt%). Thermal analysis shows several events that can be related to features in the NMR spectra, and hence changes in the atomic scale structure. As dehydroxylation occurs there is increasing AlO4 and AlO5-contents. The silica and gibbsite layers become increasingly separated as the dehydroxylation progresses. Between 900 and 1000 degrees C the silica layer forms a potassium aluminosilicate glass. The gibbsite-layer forms spinel/gamma-Al2O3 and some aluminium-rich mullite. Then on heating to 1600 degrees C changes in the Si-29 and Al-27 MAS NMR spectra are consistent with the aluminosilicate glass increasing its aluminium-content, the amount of mullite increasing probably with its silicon-content also increasing, and some alpha-Al2O3 forming. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.