Influences of Electrolytes, Polymers and a Surfactant on Rheological Properties of Bentonite–Water Systems

Abstract

Characteristic rheological properties, such as viscosity, shear stress, yield point, gel strength and thixotropy, of natural Ca- bentonite and Na-peptized bentonite were studied after adding LiCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2·6H2O electrolytes; (NaPO3)n, polyvinyl pyrolidone (PVP) polymers and an anionic surfactant (linear alkyl benzene sulphonate, LABS). Changes in flow properties under the influence of various additives at different quantities were investigated in these slurries. The experimental results are discussed in terms of bentonite forms, types and concentrations of additives and influence of exchangeable cations. Bivalent and monovalent cations display entirely different rheological properties in two groups of muds. Furthermore, the difference in the degree of activity of PVP polymer on the viscosity of two mud systems depend on the clay mineral structure. The slurry prepared with Na-bentonite contains a minimum number of tactoids and a maximum number of sheet-bearing clay particles, which reduces the surface area of the clay minerals and increases viscosity by adding PVP polymer.