Energy Sources Part A-recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects, Vol.35, No.2, 122-133, 2013
Thermal Analysis and Rheological Study of Ocma Type Bentonite Used in Drilling Fluids
In this research, Ocma type of bentonite sample was studied by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform spectrophotometer, viscometer, differential scanning calorimeter, and thermogravimetry. It was observed that the major clay mineral was smectite and montmorillonite. Different band intervals were studied by Fourier transform spectrophotometer. The weight loss regions related to the dehydration and de-hydroxylation process were determined by differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetry at different heating rates. Kinetic parameters of the bentonite samples were determined by Arrhenius and Coats & Redfern models at different heating rates and it was found that the activation energies of the bentonite samples were in the range of 65.178.6 kJ/mol for the Arrhenius model and it was in the range of 46.488.9 kJ/mol for the Coats & Redfern model, respectively.
Keywords:bentonite;clay;differential scanning calorimeter;drilling fluids;kinetics;rheological models;rheology;thermogravimetry