ASTM D5357-03

Zeolite NaA has been used as an active component in molecular sieves employed as desiccants for natural gas, process gas streams, sealed insulated windows, and as a builder (water softener) in household laundry detergents.

This X-ray procedure is designed to allow a reporting of the relative degree of crystallization of NaA in the manufacture of NaA. The relative crystallinity number has proven useful in technology, research, and specifications.

Drastic changes in intensity of individual peaks in the XRD pattern of NaA can result from changes in distribution of electron density within the unit cell of the NaA zeolite. The electron density distribution is dependent upon the extent of filling of pores in the zeolite with guest molecules, and on the nature of the guest molecules. In this XRD method, the guest molecule H₂O completely fills the pores. Intensity changes may also result if some or all of the sodium cations in NaA are exchanged by other cations.

Drastic changes in overall intensity can result from changes in X-ray absorption attributed to non-crystalline phases, if present, in a NaA sample. If non-zeolite crystalline phases are present, their diffraction peaks may overlap with some of the NaA diffraction peaks selected for this test method. If there is reason to suspect the presence of such components, then NaA peaks free of interference should be chosen for analysis.

1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the relative crystallinity of zeolite sodium A (zeolite NaA) using selected peaks from the X-ray diffraction pattern of the zeolite.

1.2 The term "intensity of an X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) peak" refers to the "integral intensity," either the area of counts under the peak or the product of the peak height and the peak width at half height.

1.3 This test method provides a number that is the ratio of intensity of portions of the XRD pattern of the sample to intensity of the corresponding portion of the pattern of a reference zeolite NaA. The intensity ratio, expressed as a percentage, is then labeled "% XRD intensity/NaA."

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.