Preparation of hectorite-like swelling silicate with controlled layer charge density

Smectite like layered silicates with cation exchange capacity ranges from 60 to 90 mequivalent/100g clay were synthesized from LiF, Mg(OH)2 and colloidal silica. The controlled cation exchange capacity achieved by changing the composition of the starting mixture (namely the added LiF amount) successfully influenced the nanostructures of intercalation compounds prepared by the ion exchange with dioctadecyldimethylammonium ion.