DIELECTRIC SPECTROSCOPY AS A PROBE FOR DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF COMPACTED SMECTITES

Abstract

The micro-dynamics of water and ions in two types of clays (montmorillonite and hectorite) was investigated with broadband dielectric spectroscopy (40 Hz to 5 GHz). Four to five relaxations were observed depending on the relative humidity, the clay type and the nature of the compensating counter-ion (Na+ or Cs+). A tentative assignment of the relaxations to physical mechanisms is proposed. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.