An experimental technique was developed for studying the deformation properties of kaolinite-water mixtures, and a study was made of the effects of different wetting agents on the deformation behavior of these mixtures. Particular care was taken to minimize physical effects that could be attributed to preferred orientation of clay particles. Evaluation of different compositions was made in terms of stress-strain diagrams obtained by means of a simple compression plastometer test. Auxiliary studies included sedimentation and filtration experiments of kaolinite-water mixtures containing wetting agents.
The various classes of wetting agents investigated, viz., anionic, cationic and nonionic wetting agents, were found to affect the deformability of clay-liquid mixtures independently of the surface tension of the liquid phase. As compared with water alone, cationic and nonionic reagents decreased and anionic reagents increased the deformability of clay-liquid mixtures.
In general, the sedimentation and filtration properties of kaolinite-water mixtures containing various wetting agents were consistent with the results of the deformation experiments.