Imogolite was synthesized varying duration of reaction with heating. The tube length was longer with higher purity imogolite synthesized for longer reaction. No elongation was observed for imogolite tube in the range of 7 days or more. However, the tubes of imogolite bunched to form net texture by the reaction for 14 days. The gel volume of imogolite increased with forming the net texture, in addition to the generation of imogolite, and the viscosity rapidly increased with generating the imogolite. A high transparency was observed for the state without particles and the texture of tubes. Nosignificant change in transparency was observed for imogolite with higher purity, when ammonia was added into the imogolite solution. This phenomenon should be an indicator for purity of imogolite in the solution.
The studies on the syntheses, properties, and the applications of organic derivatives of layered silicates (and layeredtitanates) prepared by the reaction between the interlayer hydroxy groups and silane coupling reagents are reviewed. The silylated derivatives are characterized by the fact that the organic functional units are covalently attached on the interlayer surface. The control of the distribution of organic functional units, which is achieved by tuning the added amounts of the silane coupling reagents, has been shown to lead to the controlled properties of the silylated silicates and titanates such asadsorptive and swelling ones.