Abstract:
A commercial layered double hydroxide (LDH) with nominal composition [Mg0.689A10.311(OH)2](CO3)0.156.zH2O was intercalated with lauric and stearic acid using a surfactant-assisted method. X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy confirmed that bilayer-intercalated compounds were formed and that the surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) was not co-intercalated. These compounds shows interesting thermal behavior
with two phase transformations observed at elevated temperatures. At temperatures that are
significantly higher than the melting points of the corresponding free acids, the alkyl chains
assume a disordered liquid-like state within the clay galleries. However, at even higher
temperatures the materials become completely amorphous like true melts.
