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A Na-montmorillonite has been investigated by and of Kratky low angle scattering technique. Different Lattice d-spacing populations are giving evidence of an uneven water uptake within the clay layers, representing non-equilibrium states of hydration. A new specimen holder for investigation of swollen clays is described.

The experimental work described was intended to provide complementary information to investigations regarding the clay water system. In particular, it permits a correlation between NMR and additional, more extended dielectric measurements. The material presented has accordingly been selected essentially for the purpose of a comparison between the two types of relaxation processes. After a description of the new dielectric precision measuring cell and a short survey of the actual background, the experimental material is presented in graphic form pertaining to the principal temperature regions investigated.

The structural properties of water adsorbed on hydrophilic intercrystalline clay mineral surfaces have been investigated by way of NMR and dielectric measuring techniques. It is shown that structural ordering of the adsorbed water layers occurs, that the adsorption takes place independent at the exchangeable cations present in the intercrystalline spaces and that these ions only modify the structural and relaxation properties of the water. The conventional hypotheses regarding the origin of the hydrophilic clay properties are shown to be untenable. (Author)