Some mineralogical and physical interpretations of the free- swelling characteristics of montmorillonite-water systems

Free-swelling properties of montmorillonites in water systems were studied using X-ray diffraction techniques. Four specimen type montmorillonites (Wyoming bentonite, Otay bentonite, hectorite and nontronite) and several soil clays were selected.

In Phase I of the study the differential swelling properties were related to the type of cation on the exchange complex and to variations in the mineralogical properties of the montmorillonites.