Wypych, F. & Satyanarayana, K.G. (Editors) 2004. Clay Surfaces – Fundamentals and Applications.Interface Science and Techology – Volume 1. Elsevier Academic Press, 566 pp. Price $211.00. ISBN 0-12-088439-9.

This is the first volume of a new series entitled Interface Science and Technology , edited by A. Hubbard. The surface of clays (both natural and synthetic, the so-called ‘layered double hydroxides’ or LDHs) is studied in ten chapters devoted to natural clays and in six to synthetic clays. The first section concerns theoretical aspects of natural clays and the second section the synthesis of LDHs, but the applications of both families of clays are also described in both sections. The first chapter, by F. Wypych, on Chemical Modifications of Clay Surfaces appears before any paper describing the properties, synthesis and applications of clays. After a brief description of several structures of layered materials, most of the chapter is devoted to study of the effects of chemical modifications on the surface properties of these materials. The section dedicated to natural clays starts with four chapters on rather theoretical aspects, namely, Electrokinetic behaviour of Clay Surfaces , by Celik, Surface Thermodynamics of Clays , by Prakash, Phenomenology of Water Adsorption at Clay Surfaces , by Douillard and Salles, and A Worksheet Model for Adsorption/Desorption of ions on Clay Surfaces , by Rytwo. The chapters start with a brief description or approach to the specific method studied, followed …