Studies on the thixotropic behaviour of ‘Akli’ bentonite suspensions

Abstract

Thixotropic behaviour of dilute (1.5%) and concentrated (5.3% to 8.3%) suspensions of ‘Akli’ bentonite has been studied by different methods. Dilute suspensions gave soft gels on the addition of small amounts of KCl and KCNS and the equation logθ=A-BC (whereθ was time of gelation,C was concentration of the electrolyte,A andB were constants) was found to hold good. The rotational viscometer method gave hysteresis loops (equationey=a xb; wherey was torque,x was r.p.m. anda andb were constants) with concentrated suspensions containing varying amounts of caustic soda. Regression equation has been given for various gel forming mixtures.