Superior dispersion properties of palygorskite in dimethyl sulfoxide via high-pressure homogenization process

High-pressure homogenization process could well disaggregate the bundles of palygorskite (Pal) in water solution. In this paper, Pal was dispersed in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent via high-pressure homogenization process. The obtained Pal was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed DMSO-Pal interactions involving hydrogen bonding by zeolitic water and coordinated water. The obtained Pal aqueous dispersion displayed good colloidal stability. The reported method can potentially be used in the preparation of nanohybrid material. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.