Investigation of pressure-induced amorphization in hydrated zeolite Li-A and Na-A using synchrotron X-ray diffraction

High pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements of hydrated zeolite Li-A and Na-A were carried out at pressures up to 4.1 GPa and at room temperature in a large volume press. Energy dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements showed progressive pressure-induced amorphization of both Li-A and Na-A samples. The most rapid loss in long-range ordering occurred at pressures up to 2.2 GPa followed by a gradual, continued decrease in ordering up to the maximum pressure. At 4.1 GPa the samples appeared to be X-ray amorphous. After decompression, diffraction patterns at 1 atm indicated that th