Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Malfoy, C. Articles by Righi, D. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

EFFECTS OF THE NATURE OF THE EXCHANGEABLE CATION AND CLAY CONCENTRATION ON THE RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SMECTITE SUSPENSIONS

C. Malfoy^1,*, A. Pantet^1,, P. Monnet^2, and D. Righi¹

¹ Université de Poitiers, HydrASA, UMR 6532, 40 avenue du recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers, France
² Université de Poitiers, LEA, UMR 6609, Boulevard Marie et Pierre Curie, 86962 Futuroscope cedex, France

^* E-mail address of corresponding author: christine.malfoy{at}hydrasa.univ-poitiers.fr

The rheological characteristics of purified bentonite suspensions as a function of exchangeable cation (Ca²⁺, NH₄^+, Li⁺) are studied at three different clay concentrations (40 gL^–1, 60 gL^–1, 80 gL^–1). A Herschel-Bulkley model is used to determine rheological parameters such as yield value, consistency and fluidification index. The flow curves are typical for shear thinning fluids but differ on two points; presence of yield stress and/or thixotropy. The Li suspensions are not yield stress fluid, and the thixotropy is weakly expressed only for the 80 gL^–1 suspension. On the contrary, Ca-clay suspension flow curves always present yield stress and a large thixotropic area. The NH₄-clay suspensions exhibit an intermediate behavior as there is no thixotropy, but a yield stress appears for the most concentrated suspension. These differences in macroscopic mechanical properties are discussed with reference to the suggested microscopic clay organization in suspension.

Key Words: Bentonite • Clay Suspensions • Exchangeable Cation • Mechanical Properties • Montmorillonite • Rheology

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Emmerich, F. Wolters, G. Kahr, and G. Lagaly CLAY PROFILING: THE CLASSIFICATION OF MONTMORILLONITES Clays and Clay Minerals, February 1, 2009; 57(1): 104 - 114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Guisseau, P. P. Mas, D. Beaufort, J. P. Girard, A. Inoue, B. Sanjuan, S. Petit, A. Lens, and A. Genter Significance of the depth-related transition montmorillonite-beidellite in the Bouillante geothermal field (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles) American Mineralogist, November 1, 2007; 92(11-12): 1800 - 1813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]