  We address amorphization of montmorillonite crystal structure. Powdered
montmorillonite samples with an effective particle diameter 630 micrometers
were treated by a microwave field with frequency 2,45 GHz and power 750 W for
ten minutes in different environments. The first sample was treated in an air
environment, the second one in a humid environment. The third sample was a
ceramic mass with 10 percent concentration of mixing water (with respect to the
total mass). The model describing amorphization is based on results of X-ray
analysis. Activation energies were evaluated for covalent and ionic bounds of
oxygen ions, hydroxyl groups, and silicon (aluminum) ions. It is shown that the
amorphization is carried out in four stages. In fractions of the energy
consumption of the last stage the first one consumes 7-9 percent, the second
one takes 13-15 percent, and the third one takes 49-59 percent.
