| Summary: | Intercalation of cationic surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) into the interlayer space of muscovite by the ion-exchange process was investigated. Changes in the surface and structure of the muscovite modified with CTAB were characterized using Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As revealed by WAXD results, the basal spacing of CTAB-muscovite increased from 0.99 nm to 2.82 nm, indicating the formation of an intercalated structure. Through this intercalated structure, the CTA+ ions in the muscovite interlayer space were arranged in a paraffin complex that may ease the process of intercalation within the polymer matrices. FTIR spectra indicated new absorption bands at 2922 and 2855 cm−1, which signified the presence of a long alkyl chain, verifying the incorporation of CTAB into the muscovite structure. The TEM images showed separation within the muscovite layers was more intense, given their flat morphology. These micrographs demonstrate that CTAB addition had expanded the basal spacing in the muscovite layers. The present study concludes that the intercalation of CTAB-modified muscovite has a potential for polymer intercalation that can be tailored to a specific purpose. © 2022
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