Study of urea intercalation into halloysite by thermoanalytical and spectroscopic techniques

Intercalation of a kaolinite-containing halloysite from Biela Hora (Slovakia) with urea was investigated by simultaneous TG-DTA, XRD, FTIR (DRIFT), and Raman spectroscopy. The process of intercalation and thermal deintercalation was followed for the as-prepared and the washed (with isopropanol) samples. The proposed structural model was supported by molecular mechanical calculations. Incorporation of the intercalate (in 5 wt%) in molten polypropylene at 200 A degrees C resulted in the complete delamination of the mineral. It is supposed that gas formation as a result of urea decomposition between the layers prevents reorientation and restructuring of the layers.