Controlling attractive interparticle forces via small anionic and cationic additives in kaolin clay slurries

Interparticle forces govern slurry behavior in flow, mixing, sedimentation and thickening. This study evaluates the use of small anionic and cationic additives with pH to control the interparticle forces in kaolin slurry via the yield stress parameter. Both phosphate and citrate additives were found to reduce the interparticle attractive force or yield stress in the moderate pH region of 4–12. These relatively low charged additives were unable to impart a sufficiently strong repulsive interparticle force to completely disperse the slurry. Three linear relationships between yield stress and the square of zeta potential were observed in slurry with and without these additives, indicating that the yield stress–DLVO force model is obeyed in each linear region. The mid-range zeta potential region yielded a positive slope which was attributed to heterogeneous charge attraction between clay particles. It is this heterogeneous charge attraction that was weakened by the adsorbed additives. In contrast, cationic Polyethylenimine (PEI) of Mw 70,000 increases the yield stress at all pH level via bridging. Charge reversal was also observed at high PEI concentrations. In two cases, the pH of maximum yield stress and zero zeta potential coincided. A single linear yield stress–zeta potential squared relationship was observed despite particle bridging interaction being the dominant interparticle force.

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► Citrate and phosphate additives weakened the interparticle attractive force in the kaolin clay slurries.
► The maximum yield stress normally not located at the lowest value of the zeta potential.
► Low Mw Polyethylenimine (PEI) increases the strength of interparticle attractive force very strongly.
► PEI produced charge reversal in the kaolin clay slurries.
► In the presence of PEI, the maximum yield stress was located at the zero zeta potential.