Microwave radiation and mechanical grinding as new ways for preparation of saponite-like materials

The synthesis of saponites with Mg2+ as octahedral cation by using microwave radiation and their modification by mechanical grinding as a new way of synthesis of these materials were studied. The effect of time of irradiation during the microwave-assisted synthesis, and of the time of grinding during the further mechanical treatments was considered. Microwave radiation allowed obtaining saponites with structural formulae very close to the theoretical one and good ordering and properties employing short times of irradiation. Mechanical grinding induced the breakage of particles and the ordering of the layers, that is, smaller particles were formed, but they became much better oriented along the c direction than those existing in the as-synthesized saponites.