Review on the effect of isomorphic replacement on the structure and application performance of typical clay minerals

Clay minerals represent a class of hydrated phyllosilicates making up the fine-grained portions of rocks, sediments, and soils. Due to the advantages of abundant reserves, low prices, and wide applications, the development and utilization of clay minerals have received increasing attention in recent years. Isomorphic replacement is a common phenomenon in clay minerals, which is one of the main causes of changes in mineral chemical composition and physical and chemical properties. This article briefly describes the crystal structure of several clay minerals such as montmorillonite, vermiculite, palygorskite, kaolinite, and halloysite. It summarized the research status of the effect of isomorphic replacement on their structure and application performance. The research results can provide theoretical basis for the structural research and efficient resource utilization of clay minerals.