LU Yin-ping¹, LI Jing-ru¹, LIU Qin-fu^2*
(1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China;
2. College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract: This paper studies the structure, grain size and characteristics of kaolinite from Datong, Pingshuo and Huaibei coal by using SEM, XRF, XRD and IR, and discusses the influence and mechanism of the grain size on kaolinite intercalation. Results show that Pingshuo kaolinite, with medium grain size and highly ordered structure, exhibits the best intercalation ratio and Datong kaolinite, with coarse grain size and ordered structure, comes in second, while Huaibei kaolinite, with small grain size and low degree of order, has the poorest ratio. Research indicates that the original grain size of the kaolinite has important influence on intercalation. While medium grain size is beneficial, grain size that is too large or too small is not desirable because of the different elastic deformation during the intercalation. In addition, the crystallinity of kaolinite also plays an important role as a disordered structure is not beneficial for intercalation.

Keywords: kaolinite; coal measure; grain size; intercalation; dimethyl sulphoxide; formamide

Email: lqf@cumtb.edu.cn

ACTA MINERALOGICA SINICA Vol. 35, No. 2, 2015, Page 209-213