Effect of Polyethylene Oxide on the Rheological Behavior of Bentonite Suspensions

Abstract

The effect of Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) with a molecular weight 10000g/mol on the rheological behavior of bentonite suspension was examined in terms of viscosity, yield stress and viscoelastic modulus (G’ and G’’); characteristic of complex behaviour of montmorillonite in water. A Physica MCR301 rheometer has been used to measure the rheological properties of samples (6% bentonite) as well as bentonite-PEO mixtures at different concentrations of PEO (0.18%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%). The polyethylene oxide adsorbs onto clay particles, which changes their basic characteristics depending on the amount of PEO adsorbed.