Abstract
Polyetheramine (PEA) is a swelling inhibitor used to address engineering challenges arising from the interaction between montmorillonite (Mt) and water. This study comprehensively investigates the adsorption characteristics of PEA on three representative expansive clay samples: Na-Mt, Ca-Mt, and engineered expansive soil. Additionally, the desorption of exchangeable ions is examined. The findings reveal that a two-stage adsorption kinetic model and a pseudo-second-order kinetic model can properly describe the adsorption kinetics of PEA on expansive clays. PEA exhibits a strong capacity for ion exchange with sodium ions, while the exchange capacity for calcium ions is limited. Both protonated and non-protonated PEA contribute to rapid adsorption processes. The adsorption isotherms are well-fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with the Langmuir model being reasonable. At lower equilibrium concentrations, a higher proportion of the adsorption amount is attributed to ion exchange compared to higher equilibrium concentrations. Ion exchange emerges as the primary factor contributing to the adsorption of PEA on Na-Mt, whereas the adsorption of PEA on Ca-Mt and expansive soil is primarily attributed to physical adsorption by non-protonated PEA. X-ray diffraction results reveal significant intercalation effects of PEA as they penetrate the interlayer space and hinder interlayer ion hydration. Fourier transform infrared spectrum results demonstrate that the adsorption of PEA minimally impacts the framework of Mt structural units but primarily reduces the adsorbed water content. Clay-PEA composites exhibit a decreased affinity for water. Zeta potential experiments indicate that the adsorption of PEA significantly diminishes the surface potential of clay-PEA composite particles, effectively inhibiting their hydration dispersion.