Journal profile · Mineralogy
Applied Clay Science
ISSN 0169-1317 · eISSN 1872-9053 · Elsevier BV · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1985
Applied Clay Science: CAS Zone 2 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 5.23; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,810; review about 135 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly hard; 306 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Applied Clay Science is published by Elsevier BV and is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Clay minerals and soil interactions, Layered Double Hydroxides Synthesis and Applications and Soil and Unsaturated Flow, together about 36.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Materials Chemistry. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
An International Journal on Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Technology of Clays and Clay MineralsApplied Clay Science is an international journal attracting high-quality, novel scientific papers on clays and clay minerals, including research papers, reviews, and technical notes. The journal covers typical subjects of Fundamental and Applied Clay Science such as:• Synthesis and purification • Structural, crystallographic and mineralogical properties of clays and clay minerals • Thermal properties of clays and clay minerals • Physico-chemical properties including i) surface and interface properties; ii) thermodynamic properties; iii) mechanical properties • Interaction with water, with polar and apolar molecules • Colloidal properties and rheology • Modelling and simulation, but with an experimental application. Purely theoretical simulation studies are only acceptable when they deal with scientific issues that cannot be solved experimentally • Genesis and deposits of clay minerals • Geology and geochemistry of clays • Modification of clays and clay minerals properties by thermal and physical treatments • Modification by chemical treatments with organic and inorganic molecules (organoclays, pillared clays) • Modification by biological microorganisms • Structural and textural modifications of clay minerals • Synthesis of other materials (such as zeolites, and geopolymers) starting from clay minerals. • Novel materials based on clay minerals such as clay polymer (bio)nanocomposites • Clays and clay minerals in formulations of pesticides and drugs and in animal food production • Environmental applications such as Radioactive Waste Disposal, Water Engineering, Depollution of heavy metals, Filtration • Fillers and coating (paint, rubber, plastics) • Drilling fluids and drilling muds in petroleum industry • Foundry moulding • Applications in soil chemistry and in agriculture • Applications of clay mineral in hydrocarbon and geothermal prospection • Geotechnical applications of clays and clay minerals • Applications in ceramics, construction, iron ore and steel industry, paper, catalysis, cosmetics • Related lamellar materials such as Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH), layered oxides, layered silicates, Cement Silicate Hydrates (CSH, CASH, NASH), serpentine, and mica.In all the applications mentioned above, the focus of the manuscript should be on the clay.This journal welcomes contributions that support and advance the UN's sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 3 (Good health and well - being), SDG 6 (Clear water and sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (Industry, infrastructure and innovation), SDG 13, (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on land)
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Mineralogy
Editor-in-chief Peng YuanPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 16 in mainland China (about 24%); most named Mainland China 16, France 12, Spain 10, Italy 8, United States 3 (68 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Clay minerals and soil interactionsMaterials Science19.2%
- Layered Double Hydroxides Synthesis and ApplicationsMaterials Science8.5%
- Soil and Unsaturated FlowEngineering8.4%
- Concrete and Cement Materials ResearchEngineering5.8%
- Iron oxide chemistry and applicationsEnergy5.2%
- Polymer Nanocomposites and PropertiesMaterials Science4.8%
- Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removalEnvironmental Science4.8%
- Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials productionEngineering3.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Mineralogy | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Physical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Mineralogy | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Mineralogy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Physical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 5.23LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 5.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 10.7LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 10.7Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.97LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.21LetPub ·
- h-index
- 109LetPub ·
- h-index
- 197OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,817OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 5.61OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 7.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 23.82%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 281LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 8,159 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 227 | 90 | 149 |
| 2025 | 306 | 92 | 1,372 |
| 2024 | 337 | 116 | 3,358 |
| 2023 | 332 | 118 | 5,695 |
| 2022 | 307 | 67 | 7,312 |
| 2021 | 320 | 63 | 8,693 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
135 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 8.3 weeks
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 8.3 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly hardLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 49 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to final decision
- 60 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 135 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,810 / EUR 3,560 / GBP 3,050 / JPY 472,550 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,990 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers4, by deadline
- Advancing Sustainable Materials: Calcined Clay InnovationsDeadline
- Clay-Based Materials for Emerging Applications: Multifunctional Advances across Energy, Manufacturing, Biomedical, and Environmental FieldsDeadline
- From Clay Fundamentals to Hybrid Materials and Polymer Nanocomposites: A Tribute to Y. FukushimaDeadline
- Mineralogy and Surface Chemistry of Palygorskite and Sepiolite: From Interfacial Mechanisms to Metal SquestrationDeadline
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 5,800 words
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted7
- protocolResearch Papers The submitted text of Research Papers should cover no more than 20 pages (without Tables, Legends, and References, style: font size 12, double l…Length not stated
- research paperResearch Papers The submitted text of Research Papers should cover no more than 20 pages (without Tables, Legends, and References, style: font size 12, double l…Length not stated
- reviewResearch Papers The submitted text of Research Papers should cover no more than 20 pages (without Tables, Legends, and References, style: font size 12, double l…Length not stated
- review articleResearch Papers The submitted text of Research Papers should cover no more than 20 pages (without Tables, Legends, and References, style: font size 12, double l…Length not stated
- review articlesReview Articles Before submitting Review Articles, the authors should consult the Editors-in-Chief. Review articles generally summarize the existing literature,…Length not stated
- short communicationResearch Papers The submitted text of Research Papers should cover no more than 20 pages (without Tables, Legends, and References, style: font size 12, double l…Length not stated
- technical noteResearch Papers The submitted text of Research Papers should cover no more than 20 pages (without Tables, Legends, and References, style: font size 12, double l…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
1 to 7 keywords required Model summary
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability
data statement required Model summary
To foster transparency, you are required to state the availability of any data at submission.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
open access options available Model summary
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1985
- ISSN
- 0169-1317
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-9053
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Applied Clay Science
What CAS zone is Applied Clay Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Applied Clay Science is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Materials Science, Multidisciplinary / Mineralogy. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Applied Clay Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.23; CiteScore 10.7, h-index 197.
How long does peer review take at Applied Clay Science?
The publisher reports about 135 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 8.3 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly hard”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Applied Clay Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 5,800 words; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Applied Clay Science based?
Of the 68 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 16 (about 24%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (16), France (12) and Spain (10). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Applied Clay Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Applied Clay Science is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Applied Clay Science open access, and what is the APC?
Applied Clay Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,810.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .