Effect of Heat Treatment on the Morphology of Montmorillonite Particles

Abstract—The morphology of particles of aluminum-magnesium montmorillonite of different chemical compositions, synthesized under conditions of stepwise hydrothermal heat treatment of gels in the range from 200 to 300°C is studied. The morphologies of particles synthesized under the conditions of static and stepwise heat treatment are compared. The possibility of obtaining particles with spherical and spongy morphologies with different porosities, depending on the heat treatment conditions and the chemical composition of montmorillonite, is shown.