Uses and applications of clays and clay minerals. State-of-the-art and perspectives

The use of clays is growing at an enormous rate in a great variety of industries. Moreover, clay science has also many applications in soil mechanics, agriculture and plays a role in environmental problems. Last but not least, clay minerals may have a critical part in the origin, migration and trapping of hydrocarbons, and in petroleum cracking. High-quality products require high technology and high-grade raw materials. However, many good materials are used for low-grade products and large quantities of useful raw materials are wasted. On other hand, in many instances insufficient information is available about the potentialities of alternative materials. Inadequate understanding the true nature of raw clay materials prevents fully defining and characterizing their properties, and predicting their behaviour in the formulated products. Modifications of physical and chemical properties, or mixing may allow clays to be used for benefication and manufacturing. The "communication gap" sometimes inhibits interaction between the generators and users of basic research. Areas of incomplete knowledge and the need for new commercial applications should stimulate further investigations. Industrial innovation, technological and processing optimization, and the development of new products should promote interdisciplinary cooperation linking basic science and technology.Veniale Fernando. Uses and applications of clays and clay minerals. State-of-the-art and perspectives. In: Proceedings of the 9th international Clay Conference, Strasbourg, 1989. Vol V : Industrial applications of clays. Analytical techniques and teaching of clay mineralogy. Strasbourg : Institut de Géologie – Université Louis-Pasteur, 1990. pp. 81-90. (Sciences Géologiques. Mémoire, 89