Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Preprints
DOI 10.48550/arXiv.2506.20271
Lizenz creative commons licence
Titel (primär) Broadband dielectric analysis of clays: Impact of cation, exchange capacity, water content, and porosity
Autor Schmidt, F.; Wagner, N.; Mulder, I.; Emmerich, K.; Bore, T.; Bumberger, J. ORCID logo
Quelle arXiv
Erscheinungsjahr 2025
Department MET
Sprache englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Abstract Clay-rich soils and sediments are key components of near-surface systems, influencing water retention, ion exchange, and structural stability. Their complex dielectric behavior under moist conditions arises from electrostatic interactions between charged mineral surfaces and exchangeable cations, forming diffuse double layers that govern transport and retention processes. This study investigates the broadband dielectric relaxation of four water-saturated clay minerals (kaolin, illite, and two sodium-activated bentonites) in the 1 MHz to 5 GHz frequency range using coaxial probe measurements.
The dielectric spectra were parameterized using two phenomenological models - the Generalized Dielectric Relaxation Model (GDR) and the Combined Permittivity and Conductivity Model (CPCM) - alongside two theoretical mixture models: the Augmented Broadband Complex Dielectric Mixture Model (ABC-M) and the Complex Refractive Index Model (CRIM). These approaches were evaluated for their ability to link dielectric relaxation behavior to petrophysical parameters such as cation exchange capacity (CEC), volumetric water content (VWC), and porosity.
The results show distinct spectral signatures correlating with clay mineralogy, particularly in the low-frequency range. Relaxation parameters, including relaxation strength and apparent DC conductivity, exhibit strong relationships with CEC, emphasizing the influence of clay-specific surface properties. Expansive clays like bentonites showed enhanced relaxation due to ion exchange dynamics, while deviations in a soda-activated bentonite highlighted the impact of chemical treatments on dielectric behavior.
This study provides a framework for linking clay mineral physics with electromagnetic methods, with implications for soil characterization, hydrological modeling, geotechnical assessment, and environmental monitoring.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=30950
Schmidt, F., Wagner, N., Mulder, I., Emmerich, K., Bore, T., Bumberger, J. (2025):
Broadband dielectric analysis of clays: Impact of cation, exchange capacity, water content, and porosity
arXiv 10.48550/arXiv.2506.20271