Influence of Low Molecular Weight Polymers on the Rheology of Bentonite Suspensions

Abstract

In this communication we demonstrate how relatively low molecular weight synthetic polymers significantly alter the rheological properties of Bentonite/water suspensions depending upon the polymer dosage and/or degree of surface coverage on the clay particle. The behaviour of two types of nonionic polymers are reported; a series of nonylphenol poly(propylene oxide) poly(ethylene oxide) polymers with varying EO chain length and a series consisting of an ABA block copolymer of poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) with varying EO chain length. Adsorption isotherms of dilute clay suspensions showed a higher uptake of the lowest molecular weight polymer (in µmol/m²) for each series. The adsorbed amount G increases in the order NPE > PEO > PE. The oscillatory shear and steady state shear stress-shear rate measurements of concentrated clay suspensions (3-6% w/v) facilitate the interpretation of the particle-particle interactions. The yield stress, plastic viscosity and elastic modulus showed a maximum at about 50% surface coverage by the NPE polymers, and a subsequent decrease due to stabilisation of the suspension. For the PE polymers these parameters continously decreased as the surface of the clay particle was covered. Scaling of the elastic modulus with increasing clay content allows the determination of the exponent n from a power-law fit G = Kon which qualitatively describes the degree of dispersion for the different polymers. Preliminary results of the effect of temperature and pressure on Bentonite/polymer suspensions are also presented.