Pillaring of layered compounds

Abstract

A process is disclosed for pillaring layered materials which do not swell appreciably in water. The process comprises first intercalating an amine or other neutral molecule such as an amide or dimethyl sulfoxide between the layers of the material to be pillared. This allows the subsequent incorporation of inorganic pillars which are more temperature stable than the intercalated amine. Also, disclosed are different pillared products produced by the process. The starting materials do not appreciably swell in water and the pillared composition final product is produced by swelling with an inorganic intercalate and then displacing the inorganic intercalate with an inorganic pillaring substance. The pillared composition disclosed in this invention comprises layers of a group IV A or IV B phosphate, alkali titanate, titanium niobate, alkaline niobate, antimonate, manganate, silicate, or metal oxide separated by a pillaring substance, wherein said pillaring substance is selected from the group consisting of aluminum polymer, zirconium polymer, chromium polymer and bismuth polymer.