Study of Anisotropic Surface Property of Phyllosilicates by AFM

The phyllosilicates are an important class of valuable industrial minerals and play an essential role in many disciplines. The surface properties of phyllosilicate minerals are a topic of crucial importance as they directly affect all industrial aspects in mineral processing. The objective of this study is to investigate the anisotropic surface properties of selected phyllosilicate minerals, focuing on surface charging properties of their basal planes and edge surfaces, and their related particle interactions and rheological properties of particle suspensions.The findings from this study are anticipated to provide a basis for understanding the colloidal behavior of phyllosilicates in mineral processing and hence better control their process performance.