Anisotropic character of talc surfaces as revealed by streaming potential measurements, atomic force microscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations

A study of the interfacial properties of the basal plane and the edge surfaces of talc is described in this paper. The isoelectric-point measured at the two different crystallographic planes by the streaming potential method was found to be similar and exists at about pH 3.0. In the case of the edge surface the zeta potential increases at higher pH values which can be attributed to the hydration of magnesium ions at the edge surface. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) colloidal probe technique was used to measure interaction forces.