A Tailored Approach in the Bentonite-like Raw Material Characterization Using Thermal and Water Sorption Techniques

Abstract

Clayey raw materials present a wide variety of uses depending on their specific composition. Bentonite-like clays are considered suitable candidates to be used in some industrial applications, such as pharmaceutics, catalysis, antibacterial agents or food additives because of their highly desired adsorption properties, concretely regarding water vapor behavior. In the present study, a specific methodology for the characterization of some clayey raw materials used in the ceramic industry and its correlation with water vapor sorption properties is presented. Six different clayey raw materials have been wholly characterized until their specific chemical formula are obtained, and their water vapor adsorption behavior was correlated to their specific composition. The whole protocol has been validated with certified standard reference materials. The obtained results show a relationship between montmorillonite content in clay with water vapor adsorption behavior and certain thermal events of clayey particles, which can help the industry to understand product behavior and characterization during ceramic manufacturing process.