Abstract
Various kinds of clay were used to prepare self-standing-films with a simple casting method using aqueous dispersions of the clays. Eleven clays including natural, synthetic, and organophilic ones were selected. These clays were characterized using a laser-scattering size-meter, UV-vis spectrometer, SEM, XRD, and AFM. Saponite, stevensite, montmorillonite, and water-swellable synthetic mica formed self-standing-films with ordered laminated structure. Results confirmed that the swelling and delamination properties are fundamental parameters of film formation; the cation exchange capacity (CEC) was also revealed as an important parameter.
