Author(s)

Chinedum Ogonna Mgbemena, Naboth O. Ibekwe, Abdul Azeez Peer Mohamed, Rugmini Sukumar, Aryiappallil Ramankuttymenon Ravindranatha Menon

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
National Engineering Design Development Institute, Nnewi, Nigeria.
National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India..

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.

Kaolin; Rubber Seed Oil; Tea Seed Oil; Characterization; Ultraviolet

Mgbemena, C. , Ibekwe, N. , Mohamed, A. , Sukumar, R. and Ravindranatha Menon, A. (2013) Thermal Behavior and UV Properties of Organomodified Kaolin Oleochemically Derived from Rubber Seed Oils (Hevea brasiliensis) and Tea Seed Oils (Camellia sinensis). Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology, 3, 163-168. doi: 10.4236/jsemat.2013.33021.