Smectites and related silicates

Aminoclay: a functional layered material with multifaceted applications

“…From toothpastes, pencils (laponite), paints, plastics, household ceramics (kaolinite) to the cores of dams clays are used literally everywhere. 1,3,[7][8][9][10] Needless to say the emerging applications of clay in catalysis, 1,11,12 separation, 13,14 nanocomposites, [15][16][17][18][19] ferrouids, 14,20 biomedicine 21 and for many other purposes [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] generated a great deal of interest in the design and synthesis of tailor made clays to suit our emerging demands. For example, in the application of clay, when a good dispersion in water is required, 15,35,38,39 poorly dispersible clays like smectite, kaolinite, and bentonites are of little use.…”