Formed product of vermiculite and method for producing the same

Abstract

A formed product of vermiculite comprising thin leaves of vermiculite containing cations of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, manganese, II group elements, IV group elements and VIII group elements, substituted for exchangeable cations retained in vermiculite. Such a formed vermiculite product has high strength as well as excellent heat resistance. The formed product of vermiculite can be obtained by a method comprising the steps of crushing vermiculite to obtain thin leaves thereof, subjecting the thin leaves to ion exchange to substitute exchangeable cations retained therein by cations of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, manganese, II group elements, IV group elements and VIII group elements, and forming the resulting thin leaves into a stack or laminate. The formed vermiculite product thus obtained can retain further properties, such as an ability to expand and water resistance. More particularly, when the formed product (subjected to such ion exchange) is contacted with hydrogen peroxide, the resulting expanded formed product of vermiculite is suitable as a fixing material, shock absorber and the like, further retaining excellent compressibility, on the other hand, the product is heated in an oxidative atmosphere to obtain a formed vermiculite product having excellent water resistance as well as high strength, which is useful for a heat-insulating material and a refractory-facing material for a building.