Model for Rheology of Halloysite Suspensions

A quantitative rheological model was developed for predicting the non‐Newtonian flow behavior of aqueous halloysite suspensions. Halloysite clay from the large Utah deposits was used for this investigation because of its unique tubular morphology. The flow behavior of the suspensions was characterized by the semi empirical Ree‐Eyring generalized viscosity equation. The β parameter in the Ree‐Eyring equation, a measure of the relaxation time for the flow process, was very sensitive to variations in the pH and volume fraction solids. When the logarithm of 0 was plotted versus pH (4 to 11) for halloysite suspensions containing 15, 20, and 25 wt% solids, linear plots with increasing slopes were obtained. Attempts were made to show the physical significance of the parameters introduced in the model.