Microstructure of kaolinite sediments made with unaged FeCl3

Fine kaolinite suspensions were prepared with unaged FeCl3 to perform sedim entation tests in this study. The microstructure of kaolinite sediments was examined by scanning electron microscopy after CO2 supercritical drying. T he interaction between clay particles and FeCl3 in an aqueous medium was in vestigated by means of electrophoresis and analytical transmission electron microscopy. Clay particles were connected in three basic modes - edge to e dge (EE), edge to face (EF) and face to face (FF). Clay particles with diff erent connection modes formed aggregates or flocs in sediments. The flocs n ot only exhibited a fractal structure themselves, but also formed sediments with fractal characteristics. This study determined the formation conditio ns of different clay particle connection modes, aggregates or fractal flocs in the presence of unaged FeCl3 in an aqueous medium. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.