Fine material effect on kaolin suspensions rheology

A good rheological characterization can be used as a control parameter within the industrial processing of kaolin. The kaolin used was characterized by SEM, XRD, XRF and particle size. Also it was classified and separated in three sizes of fine material, which was introduced in suspensions with three different size distributions. The analysis was based on a rheological study of the fine particles influence, on the suspension viscosity. The results show that it is possible to modify the viscosity by altering the fines content without changing the solid fraction of the suspension. Suspensions of kaolin with 40% content of fines tend to decrease its viscosity value. Suspensions with quantities of fine greater than 60 %, increase the value of its viscosity. In the research are also presented the proposed mechanisms by which the presence of fine increases or decreases the value of the viscosity of a suspension.