Infrared Absorption and X-Ray Diffraction Study of Butylammonium Complexes of Phyllosilicates

Abstract

I.R. absorption and X-ray diffraction data on butylammonium complexes of vermiculites show, when compared with the Wyoming montmorillonite complex, that the tetrahedral location of charge determines the keying of the -NH⁺₃ groups into the ditrigonal cavities and that these groups have their C₃ axes perpendicular to the layers. The aliphatic chains adopt different conformations depending on the area available per exchange position; they will either: (a) adopt an ’all-trans’ conformation with their axes inclined 55° to the silicate planes, when the area available is small; (b) rotate 120° around the C₁-C₂ bond to adopt a flat disposition relative to the layers, when the area available is larger than the area covered by the organic ion.