Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T17:22:29.149Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Simple Sample-Mounting Method for Random Powder X-Ray Diffraction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Guoping Zhang ,
John T. Germaine ,
R. Torrence Martin  and
Andrew J. Whittle
Guoping Zhang*
Affiliation:
School of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
John T. Germaine
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
R. Torrence Martin
Affiliation:
Ardaman and Associates Inc., Orlando, FL 32809, USA
Andrew J. Whittle
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This paper describes an improved simple, sample-mounting method for random powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), namely the razor tamped surface (RTS) method, which prepares a powder mount by tamping the loose powder with the sharp edge of a razor blade. Four kaolinites and a quartz powder were used to evaluate the RTS method by quantifying the degree of orientation in the sample mounts using orientation indices. Comparisons between the RTS and other published simple methods, consisting of front loading, back loading and side loading, indicate that the RTS method produces minimum packing density and minimum preferred orientation in the powder mounts of all five samples. The quartz powder used in this study does exhibit a tendency to preferred orientation. The mechanism by which the RTS method reduces preferred orientation is examined by comparing the width of the sharp blade edge with the size of clay particles. The advantages and disadvantages of the RTS method are also discussed.

Keywords

CrystallinityKaolinitePreferred OrientationQuartzRandom PowderSample PreparationX-ray Diffraction
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , April 2003 , pp. 218 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © 2003, The Clay Minerals Society

References

Aparicio, P. and Galán, E., (1999) Mineralogical interference on kaolinite crystallinity index measurements Clays and Clay Minerals 47 12–27 10.1346/CCMN.1999.0470102.Google Scholar
Artioli, G. Bellotto, M. Gualtieri, A. and Pavese, A., (1995) Nature of structural disorder in natural kaolinites: a new model based on computer simulation of powder diffraction data and electrostatic energy calculation Clays and Clay Minerals 43 438–445 10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430407.Google Scholar
Bish, D.L. Reynolds, R.C. Jr, Bish, D.L. and Post, J.E., (1989) Sample preparation for X-ray diffraction Modern Powder Diffraction Washington, D.C. Mineralogical Society of America 73–99 10.1515/9781501509018-007.Google Scholar
Brindley, G.W., (1980) Quantitative X-ray mineral analysis of clays Crystal Structures of Clay Minerals and their X-ray Identification 5 411 438.Google Scholar
Brindley, G.W. and Kurtossy, S.S., (1961) Quantitative determination of kaolinite by X-ray diffraction The American Mineralogist 46 1205 1215.Google Scholar
Brown, G. Brindley, G.W., Brindley, G.W. and Brown, G., (1980) X-ray diffraction procedures for clay mineral identification Crystal Structures of Clay Minerals and their X-ray Identification London Mineralogical Society 305 359.Google Scholar
Calvert, L.D. and Sirianni, A.F., (1980) A technique for controlling preferred orientation in powder diffraction samples Journal of Applied Crystallography 13 462 10.1107/S0021889880012563.Google Scholar
Calvert, L.D. Sirianni, A.F. and Gainsford, G.J., (1982) A comparison of methods for reducing preferred orientation Advances in X-ray Analysis 26 105 110.Google Scholar
Eslinger, E.V. Mayer, L.M. Durst, T.L. Hower, J. and Savin, S.M., (1973) An X-ray technique for distinguishing between detrital and secondary quartz in the fine-grained fraction of sedimentary rocks Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 43 504 543.Google Scholar
Hillier, S., (1999) Use of an air brush to spray dry samples for X-ray powder diffraction Clay Minerals 34 127–135 10.1180/000985599545984.Google Scholar
Hinckley, D.N., (1963) Variability in ‘crystallinity’ values among the kaolin deposits of the coastal plain of Georgia and South Carolina Clays and Clay Minerals 11 229–235 10.1346/CCMN.1962.0110122.Google Scholar
Hughes, R. and Bohor, B., (1970) Random clay powders prepared by spray-drying American Mineralogist 55 1780 1786.Google Scholar
Jenkins, R. Fawcett, T.G. Smith, D.K. Visser, J.W. Morris, M.C. and Frevel, L.K., (1986) Sample preparation methods in X-ray powder diffraction Powder Diffraction 1 51–63 10.1017/S0885715600011581.Google Scholar
Jonas, E.C. and Kuykendall, J.R., (1966) Preparation of montmorillonites for random powder diffraction Clay Minerals 6 232–235 10.1180/claymin.1966.006.3.10.Google Scholar
Krinsley, D.H. and Smalley, I.J., (1973) Shape and nature of small sedimentary quartz particles Science 180 127–129 10.1126/science.180.4092.1277.Google Scholar
Klug, H.P. and Alexander, L.E., (1974) X-ray Diffraction Procedures 2nd New York John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
McMurdie, H.F. Morris, M.C. Evans, E.H. Paretzkin, B. Wong-Ng, W. and Hubbard, C.R., (1986) Methods of producing standard X-ray diffraction powder patterns Powder Diffraction 1 40–43 10.1017/S0885715600011271.Google Scholar
Mitchell, J.K., (1993) Fundamentals of Soil Behavior 2nd New York John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Moore, D.M. and Reynolds, R.C. Jr, (1997) X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals 2nd New York Oxford University Press 378 pp.Google Scholar
Paterson, E. Bunch, J.L. and Duthie, D.M.L., (1986) Preparation of randomly-oriented samples for X-ray diffractometry Clay Minerals 21 101–106 10.1180/claymin.1986.021.1.09.Google Scholar
Pruett, R.J. and Webb, H.L., (1993) Sampling and analysis of KGa-1b well-crystallized kaolin source clay Clays and Clay Minerals 41 514–519 10.1346/CCMN.1993.0410411.Google Scholar
Wang, W. Yeh, H. Chen, P. and Wang, M., (1998) Kaolin mineralogy of clays in paleosol profiles on the late-miocene sediments in Penghu Islands (Pescadores), Taiwan Clays and Clay Minerals 46 1–9 10.1346/CCMN.1998.0460101.Google Scholar
Wilson, M.J. and Wilson, M.J., (1987) X-ray powder diffraction methods A Handbook of Determinative Methods in Clay Mineralogy Glasgow, UK Blackie 26 98.Google Scholar