Modification of sodium montmorillonite (MMT) with amino silanes was investigated by infrared spectrum (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. The weakening effects of aluminum hydroxyl group at 3620 cm^-1 proved that the surface modification had taken place. In the presence of acetic acid, the basal spacing of MMT modified with the amino silanes was increased to approximate 1.76 nm, which indicated the intercalation of amino silanes. TGA results confirmed the intercalation. Thus, intercalated/surface modified MMT could be obtained by using montmorillonite and amino silanes under the treatment of acetic acid. The dispersion results of MMT in different solvents showed that the intercalated/surface modified MMT had improved dispersion ability in ethanol.

Key words: montmorillonite, surface modification, intercalation, amino silane