Preparation of potassium acetate intercalated metakaolinite

Potassium acetate was intercalated into metakaolinite by grinding. The effect of grinding time, potassium acetate content and heat was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TG–DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermal analysis revealed that the melting temperature of potassium acetate in the intercalated complexes slightly increased, suggesting that the potassium acetate was present in the interlayer space of metakaolinite. TEM showed that metakaolinite was delaminated after intercalation of potassium acetate. The intensity of the characteristic reflections of metakaolinite decreased during heating, increasing grinding times and potassium acetate content.