THE ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF SODIUM MONTMORILLONITE SUSPENSIONS

Shear wave rigidity moduli G have been determined using a shear wave p ropagation technique for sodium montmorillonite suspensions. Measureme nts were made as a function of time at various values of pH, NaCl conc entration (C) and solids concentration and the data used to estimate G (e) the value of the modulus at t = infinity. The dependency of G(e) o n pH, C and solids concentration is interpreted in terms of the mode o f interaction between particles and the associated volume filling stru cture. The results suggest that whether a coagulated or dispersive str ucture develops in these suspensions depends not only on pH and C but also on the degree of delamination of the clay.