Hydroxygel

Bentonite is a natural occurrence material dominantly the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite. It is having a layered structure that possesses High Swelling properties and High Cation exchange capacities. When in contact with water it expands up to Twenty to Forty times its dry volume. Depending upon the dominant exchangeable cations present the clay may be referred as Calcium Bentonite or Sodium Bentonite, the two varieties exhibiting different properties and thus, uses. There are three main characteristics of Bentonite that make it commercially useful. They include Thixotropy, Swelling, and Adsorption.