Inorganic gels and ceramic papers, films, fibers, boards, and coatings

Abstract

The present invention is related to the production of crystal-containing gels and papers, films, fibers, boards, and coatings made therefrom. The process for making the gels comprises three general steps: first, a fully or predominantly crystalline body is formed containing crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite; second, that body is contacted with a polar liquid, desirably water, to cause swelling and disintegration of the body accompanied with the formation of a gel; and, third, the solid:liquid ratio of the gel is adjusted to a desired value depending upon the application therefor. Where papers, films, fibers, boards, or coatings are desired, such are prepared from the gel, and, to impart good chemical durability thereto, are thereafter contacted with a source of large cations to effect an ion exchange reaction between the large cations and the Li.sup.+ and/or Na.sup.+ ions from the interlayer of the crystals, and the products then dried. Glass-ceramic bodies are the preferred starting materials.