%0 Journal Article %T Thermal Behavior and UV Properties of Organomodified Kaolin Oleochemically Derived from Rubber Seed Oils (<i>Hevea brasiliensis</i>) and Tea Seed Oils (<i>Camellia sinensis</i>) %A Chinedum Ogonna Mgbemena %A Naboth O. Ibekwe %A Abdul Azeez Peer Mohamed %A Rugmini Sukumar %A Aryiappallil Ramankuttymenon Ravindranatha Menon %J Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology %P 163-168 %@ 2161-489X %D 2013 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/jsemat.2013.33021 %X
Kaolin was
modified using a chemical complex of hydrazine hydrate and oleochemical sodium
salts derived from rubber seed oil (SRSO) and tea seed oil (STSO) respectively.
Characterization of the pristine kaolin and the modified kaolins were performed
using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Simultaneous
Thermogravimetric/Differential Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA) and UV
Spectrophotometry. TG/DTA revealed that
the incorporation of the oleochemical salts enhanced thermal decomposition of
kaolin into metakaolin. Ultraviolet spectrophotometric studies conducted on the
modified kaolin show for the first time that the SRSO-modified kaolin and
STSO-modified kaolin have a peak absorbance
wavelengths of 312.72 nm and 314.26 nm respectively. This shows that the
modified kaolin is a promising candidate for sunscreen applications.