Bentonite

Labh Group is a leading miner and supplier of bentonite in India. The company surface mines high quality sodium bentonite and further processes it for a variety of applications. With nearly 250,000 tonnes of bentonite production every year, it supplies the product to meet various industrial needs such as: foundry, iron ore pelletizing, absorbents, edible oil refining, drilling fluids and sealants. The mining process is controlled by stringent quality control procedures and all products are certified underAPI/OCMA Standards wherever applicable.

Labh Group manufactures and supplies foundry grade bentonite. Specifically used in cast iron, steel and malleable iron foundries and casting industries, Labh Group provides cost efficient sodium bentonite that enables effective flow, compact ability and thermal stability in production processes.

Quality Assurance – we maintain:

  • High gelling time resulting into higher strength in low mulling time
  • pH balance
  • Active clay maintenance
Physical properties Unit Protocol Labhunibond Labhexpobond Labhmaxbond LabhSeabond
Base Exchange Capacity meq/100 gms IS 12446:1988 110 110 110 110
Methylene blue value mg of MB/gm IS 12446:1988 400 + 20 420 + 20 420 + 20 420 + 20
Swelling capacity cc IS 12446:1988 30 min 35 min 30 min 35 min
Gelling time sec IS 12446:1988 Instantaneous Instantaneous Instantaneous Instantaneous
Gel formation index ml IS 6186:1986 80 - 90 85 - 95 80 - 90 85 - 95
pH Value pH IS 6186:1986 9.0 - 10.0 9 - 10.2 9.0 - 10.2 9 - 10.5
Liquid Limit ml/100 gms IS 12446:1988 800 min 830 min 830 min 850 min
Green compressive psi IS 12446:1988 12 12.5 13 12
Strength using 40/60
sand in the ratio 10:4 (B: W)
Wet tensile strength (10:4 = B: W) N/cm2 IS 12446:1988 0.20 - 0.25 0.25 - 0.30 0.20 - 0.25 0.30 - 0.35
Sieve analysis (WET) IS 6186:1986
Passing 100 mesh % 99 min 99 min 99 min 99 min
Passing 200 mesh % 90 min 90 min 90 min 90 min

As a mud constituent for oil and water well drilling, Bentonite helps in sealing the borehole walls, removes drill cuttings and lubricates the cutting head. The special higher mud yield results in using less quantity of Bentonite for the same standard mud. This results in lesser requirement of Bentonite.

  • Retains thixotropic properties when met with brine and high temperature in deep drilling
  • Gives high barrel yield
  • Withstands formation pressure

Physical Analysis:

Properties Protocol Unit Required Result
Viscometer Dial Reading at 600 rpm API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 r/min 30 34
Yield Point / Plastic Viscosity Ratio API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 - 3 Max 2.85
Filtrate Volume API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 ML 15 Max 14.4
Moisture Content API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 % by weight 10.0 max. 10
Dry Screen Analysis (Residue Greater than 75 Microns) % API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 % by weight 4.0 max. 3.0 - 4.0
Properties Protocol Unit Required Result
Viscometer Dial Reading at 600 rpm API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 r/min 30 40
Yield Point / Plastic Viscosity Ratio API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 - 6 Max 4.7
Filtrate Volume API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 ML 16 Max 15.4
Moisture Content API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 % by weight 13.0 max. 10 - 12
Dry Screen Analysis (Residue Greater than 75 Microns) % API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 % by weight 2.5 max. 2.0

Physical Analysis:

Properties Protocol Unit Required Result
Yield OCMA DFCP-4 bbl./2000lbs 90 min 99 - 115
A.P.I. Filtrate Loss OCMA DFCP-4 ml 15.0 max. 13 - 14
Moisture Content API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 % by weight 15.0 max. 10.0 - 12.0
Dry Screen Analysis 100 Mesh Sieve OCMA DFCP-4 % by weight 98.0 min. 98.5
Wet Screen Analysis 200 Mesh Sieve residue OCMA DFCP-4 % by weight 2.5 max 1.75

Bentonite is traditionally used as a thixotropic, support and lubricant agent in diaphragm walls and foundations, in tunnelling, in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and pipe jacking. Bentonite, due to its viscosity and plasticity, is also used in Portland cement and mortars.

Properties Protocol Unit Result
Liquid Limit IS:12446-1988 ml/100 gm 400 - 450
Moisture Content API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 % by wt. 12.0 Max
Properties Protocol Unit Required
Dry Screen Analysis (residue on 75 um sieve IS:6186-1986 % by. Wt. 10.0 max.
Free Swelling Volume 2gm/100ml ASTM D 5890:1995 ml 30 - 35
PH Value of 5% gel IS:6186-1986 pH 9.5 - 10.0
Loose Bulk Density IS:7589-1974 gm/ml 0.85 – 1.0
Gel Time 2.5gm/25 ml IS:12446-1988 second Instant
Filtrate Volume API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 ml 20 max
Viscosity at 600 rpm API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 30 min
Methylene Blue Value API spec 131:2004/ ISO 10416:2002 mg/gm of clay 350 - 400

Our bentonite is unique Sodium based Bentonite. Our IOP grade bentonite is extraordinary solution for Iron Ore Pellet binding and it can also withstand higher temperature since it contains more percentages of metal. The grade is also having higher natural percentage of Iron which is ideal in isolating ore pellets with the maximum percentages of Iron. The Iron Ore Palletisation plant can able to maintain active clay levels with reduced additions of Bentonite since IOP grade bentonite is having high Mont values. It also offers more superior thermal durability.

Properties Protocol Unit Required
Moisture Content API Spec. 13A:2004/ ISO 13500: 1998 % by wt. 10.0 – 12.0
LOI IS:2000(P-1)-1985 % by wt. 8 – 10
Free Swelling Volume 2gm/100ml ASTM D 5890:1995 ml 30 – 35
PH Value of 5% gel IS:6186-1986 pH 9.0 – 10.0
Plate Water Absorption (18 hours) ASTM E 946 % 700 min
Gel Time 2.5gm/25 ml IS:12446-1988 second Instant
Methylene Blue Value API spec 131:2004/ ISO 10416:2002 mg/gm of clay 400 - 450
Dry Mesh % Passing 200 B.S. S IS:6186-1986 % 90 Minimum
  • Coating - As a base.
  • Cement and plaster - As a plasticizing agent.
  • Water impedance - As a barrier.
  • Insecticides - As a carrier.
  • Adhesive -As a thickener.
  • Insulation - As a binder.
  • Porcelain - As a suspending agent.
  • Paper industry - As a pitch control agent.
  • Sewer pipes - As a lubricant and sealant.
  • Printing - As a suspending agent.
  • Ceramic - As a plasticizer.