Change of b-Dimension with Swelling of Montmorillonite

The effect of swelling on the b-dimension of Na-saturated, Upton, Wyoming montmorillonite was re-examined using powdered silicon as an internal standard. After being corrected with reference to the internal standard, the b-dimension did not increase through the entire range of swelling as reported previously. It increased up to a water content of ~3.0g/g montmorillonite and remained constant thereafter. However, the diffraction peak of the internal standard shifted towards lower angles at higher water contents. This shift was attributed to a relaxation of the wetter samples away from the knife edge of the diffractometer. Presumably, a similar relaxation occurred in the earlier study and was responsible for the apparent increase in b-dimension at water contents above ~3.0g/g. The b-dimension of Upton montmorillonite saturated with different cations was determined using powdered silicon and a colloidal quartz impurity as internal standards. The water content at maximal swelling decreased as the b-dimension increased.