Abstract: | Uniform magnesium oxysulfate (5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·3H2O) whiskers with a length of 10‐15 µm and a diameter of 0.4‐1.0 µm were synthesized in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (Na‐SO3‐C6H4‐C12H25) at 200°C for 1 h, using MgSO4·7H2O and NaOH as the reactants. Mg(OH)2 precursor with poor crystallization and small crystal size was formed owing to the adsorption of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate on the Mg(OH)2 surface. The quick dissolution of Mg(OH)2 precursor in the subsequent hydrothermal reaction inhibited the occurrence of the sector‐like byproduct and promoted the formation of magnesium oxysulfate whiskers with uniform morphology. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) |