Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
We have demonstrated that films of single clay platelets can be produced by the Langmuir technique where a solution of organoclay particles dissolved in xylene was spread at the air water interface. The total thickness of the layer was found to be 21 ± 3Å which is in good agreement with previous X-ray diffraction data. Scanning probe microscopy showed the individual platelets to be rectangular in shape with an aspect ratio in excess of 100 to 1 and of uniform organic surfactant coverage.