Rheological behavior of Na-montmorillonite suspensions at low electrolyte concentration

The prevailing concept that positive-edge to negative-face attraction accounts for the rheological behaviour of montmorillonite suspensions at low electrolyte concentrations was investigated. Results of the experiments carried out suggest that: 1) positive-edge to negative-face interaction cannot solely account for the rheological properties of montmorillonite at low electrolyte concentration, and 2) the release of octahedral Mg (super 2+) from montmorillonite affects theta, because it reduces the negative charge on the particles and, thereby, the repulsive force between them.