Weak flocculation of aqueous kaolin suspensions initiating by NaCMC with different molecular weights

The present work is an investigation of the effect of NaCMC with different viscosities (molecular weights) on the stability of aqueous kaolin suspensions at pH 5-6. The stabilizing effect of polymers was characterized by measuring the sedimentation volumes (for 2.5% kaolin suspensions) and some important rheological parameters (for 40% and 50% kaolin suspensions). In certain cases the stability of suspensions was also studied in the presence of 0.5-1.0% NaCl. The additives were incorporated into the suspensions separately and simultaneously, as well. In certain cases the effect of mixing order of NaCMCs was also studied. The lower viscosity NaCMC was found to be a better stabilizing agent than its medium viscosity counterpart at the studied polymer concentrations (0.005-1.0%). This was manifested in smaller sedimentation volumes and lower rheological parameters (viscosity, yield stress, degree of thixotropy and elasticity). The lower and the medium viscosity polymer were simultaneously and consecutively added in a mass ratio of 50:1 and 10:1. The resulted observation of low viscosity and yield stress, and more importantly thixotropy and elasticity, can be interpreted in terms of a “site-blocking” type flocculation.