King of Clays: Decoding Attapulgite
Attapulgite presents a unique one-dimensional rod-crystal morphology. Its crystals consist of silicon-oxygen tetrahedral sheets and magnesium (aluminum)-oxygen octahedral sheets. Inside the rod crystals, there are regular pore channels. This special microstructure gives attapulgite many excellent properties. The rod crystals interweave and form a fibrous aggregate. At the macroscopic level, it shows good flexibility and plasticity. […]