An insight on the weakening of the interlayer bonds in a Cameroonian kaolinite through DMSO intercalation

•DMSO intercalation and displacement in kaolinite•Weakening of interlayer interactions•Lowering of the dehydroxylation temperature•Disordering of the kaolinite structure•Composite forming route

In this study, intercalation of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) in a Cameroonian kaolinite is used to achieve weakening of the interlayer hydrogen bonds, in the perspective of dispersion or even exfoliation of the clay within polymer composite materials. Displacement of intercalated DMSO by ethyl acetate and ammonium acetate is studied in order to simulate the interactions with the polymer matrix. The exfoliation of the kaolinite is well evidenced by X-ray diffraction and SEM observations. The disruption of the interlayer bonds is shown by the displacement of the FT-IR vibration modes of both Al–OH and Si–O functions, and by the decrease of the dehydroxylation temperature recorded by Controlled Rate Thermal Analysis. Complete displacement of DMSO by ethyl acetate is achieved and the crystalline structure is deeply disordered as a result of interlayer bonds weakening. The displacement of DMSO by ammonium acetate leads to a ternary composite of DMSO/ammonium acetate with respective intercalation ratio of 62.4% and 57.7%.