Paint bentonite is a beneficial grade of bentonite made of inorganic clays and has an inorganic origin. These clays are particularly useful for water-based formulations because they have pseudoplastic solid and thixotropic action. The chosen, purified and activated white bentonite clay with a high montmorillonite content serves as the foundation for these thickening and anti-settling agents. The ability to create micronic and submicronic particles in dispersion with a high specific surface area correlates with activity. Paint bentonite serves primarily as a Viscosifying and Thickening agent in the coating and paint industry. It is a crucial ingredient in paint production that functions widely.
Iran Bentonite Co. is a prominent producer of paint bentonite and other grades of this substance with high purity. This Iran bentonite manufacturer counts on high-quality mines and a flawless supply chain to produce a reliable product with perfect properties. Customers from every corner of the world can go for this company’s products and enjoy seamless logistics. They can also order other grades of bentonite from this Iran bentonite supplier. In this case, please get in touch with our experts.
What is Bentonite?
Bentonite, commonly known as montmorillonite, is a particular type of clay mineral belonging to the smectite group. It is a layered silicate with a three-layer structure of two tetrahedral layers called a sodium-aluminum hydro silicate; An octahedron of metal surrounds it. Magnesium can take the place of aluminum in the octahedron layer, creating an excess of negative charge. Different monovalent and bivalent cations balance out this negative charge (Ca, Mg, Na, and others).
The montmorillonite’s constituent particles resemble lamellas due to the usual crystal structure. These can be “delaminated” and dispersed in water to form submicron particles, but they can also be retained in stacks by the Van der Waals forces. A remarkable value of 800 m2/g results in a significant surface area (specific surface area). Some products of Iran Bentonite manufacturers are bentonites that have been processed and have a high specific surface area and cation exchange capacity. In the mine, raw materials are chosen and processed to produce high-performance goods such as these outcomes. Still, we must notice that depending on the use and the desired impact, the average dosage ranges from 0.3% to 3.0%. Hence, it is unnecessary to employ a high-purity product for every application.
The reactivity of bentonite with different substances, including water, organic compounds, amines, etc., determines how bentonite works in the industry. This reactivity determines how bentonite is used in paint, refining industrial and culinary oils, chemicals, oil and gas well drilling, industrial adhesives, and other products. The environment in which bentonite minerals originate is another critical aspect of this material. Based on this environment, two types of bentonite minerals—calcium and sodium—are classified as bentonites. Compared to calcium bentonite, sodium bentonite has a more excellent capability for swelling. Another physical characteristic, the ion exchange, in various sectors has been identified by comparing the swelling rates of calcium and sodium bentonite.
What is Paint Bentonite?
Bentonite clay functions in a wide range of industries due to its distinct chemical and physical characteristics. For instance, and in our case, Paint bentonite is a type of this product utilized as a thickener and extender for paints in a wide range of industries, based on its physiochemical properties. During the manufacturing process and the application of paint bentonite in painting, familiarizing with rheology is crucial. With the help of this science, chemists can rely on sodium bentonite as an additive for paints and coating as Coating Bentonite.
Since Na-Bentonite is more affordable and environmentally friendly than polymer-based thickening agents, it tends to change the viscosity of paints. To achieve the proper polarity in solvent-based systems, bentonite typically reacts with a quaternary ammonium salt. However, to achieve the best performance in water-based paints, it is essential to strengthening their thickening nature. According to reports, additions like MgO and LiCl can enhance the material’s flow behavior and stability when used in water-based systems.
Some inks may not dry while printing, which results in blotting. In this case, we can also rely on paint bentonite because its ability to suspend and thicken pigments and extenders makes it a fantastic thickener agent—very good thixotropy for minimizing drips and sags. Paint bentonite provides low shear viscosity and settling prevention. Due to its ability to suspend in water-based. This substance also holds other properties, such as:
- Excellent thixotropy in bentonite helps to prevent sedimentation and leaking;
- Low shear viscosity is provided by bentonite, which also inhibits collapse;
- Slow-drying and stain-forming inks can be removed with bentonite.
Different Grades of Paint Bentonite
Because of its remarkable rheological characteristics, bentonite suspensions play an essential role in industrial operations. They are utilized in various industrial sectors, including ceramics, paper, cement, dyes, pharmaceuticals, drilling fluids, nanocomposites, and polymer composites. Even though bentonites are in great numbers and of high quality in various locations around the Middle East, these resources have not been used effectively. As a result, chemists focus more on bentonite rheological properties to utilize them to their full potential.
The size, shape, electrostatic characteristics, exchangeable ions, and concentration of the electrolytes in the dispersions are some variables that affect how rheologically bentonite behaves. Other variables include the type and concentration of bentonite. In general, the Na+/Ca+ 2 ratio significantly impacts the flow of bentonite dispersions. The formulation of commercial products can be improved by using rheological measurements of bentonite dispersions, which also play a significant role in the evaluation of design and process, quality control, and storage stability of materials. These parameters can significantly influence the product’s ultimate qualities and the process’s economic features.
Several additions, such as electrolytes, polymers, and surfactants, have been used to manage bentonite dispersions’ rheological behavior that fulfills the desired applications’ requirements. As a result, bentonite manufacturers can present different grades of bentonite, such as Extender Bentonite, fertilizer bentonite, Viscosifying Bentonite, casting bentonite, Thickening Bentonite, construction bentonite, and Filler Bentonite. These types vary based on their rheological properties and applications.
Paint bentonite grade specification
Paint bentonite is a grade of this substance, provided for special applications. Since it is more affordable and environmentally benign than polymer-based thickening agents, Na-bentonite clay often serves to change the viscosity of paints. It helps to replace the current mineral thixotropic agent entirely and reduces the amount of cellulose thixotropic agent. Moreover, paint bentonite holds high resistance to microbial attack and temperature changes. It also serves to hold out qualities and very high pH stability. It is also worth mentioning that other grades of bentonite, such as white bentonite and super white bentonite, are used in related industries. They work in exquisite ceramics, tile goods, and color-sensitive ceramics (Wall tiles, Floor tiles & Vitrified Tiles). It is due to their similar qualities, which include increasing the products’ plasticizing, stabilizing, and molding properties.
Last but not least, because different bentonite manufacturers worldwide try to create this substance, utilizing different production processes and various mines, even paint bentonite or other grades, like White Bentonite for Paint, can be divided into multiple grades and qualities. Manufacturers who employ better raw materials can present more pure outcomes with high properties.
Paint Bentonite Production Process
Before discussing the paint bentonite production process, we need to know that bentonite is a mineral resource found in many locations around the world. Its global output, which includes fuller’s earth, reached 24M tonnes in 2018, with China (5.6M tonnes), the United States (5.3M tonnes), and India (4.1M tonnes) claiming the top three spots. This substance holds various properties, making it a multipurpose outcome suitable for many industries. Multiple applications require diverse processing techniques for a bentonite product to have the appropriate properties. Because of this, there isn’t a single method for processing bentonite that works for all industries or use cases; instead, each has unique needs. The fact that bentonite varies significantly, even within the same deposit, complicates matters further.
Still, we can illustrate the bentonite production process in general and then point out some unique methods that Iran Bentonite manufacturers (so-called الشركة المصنعة إيران البنتونيت in the Arabic language) employ in the paint production. Mining for ore, activating sodium, drying, and milling are all steps in manufacturing bentonite. To transform calcium bentonite into sodium bentonite, sodium carbonate acts as a substitute for calcium ions during sodium activation. Bentonite naturally contains 25 to 35 percent of moisture, evaporating through drying. It is a challenging operation that must be carried out at a controlled temperature to avoid damaging bentonite’s molecular structure because it is hygroscopic. In fact, at temperatures higher than 500 °C, crystallization water is permanently removed from bentonite, which then loses all of its characteristics and becomes a grog.
Below, you can discover some requirements for creating a grade of bentonite that functions as a Coating Bentonite for Paint or a Viscosifying Agent in producing solvent-based paint.
Taking Hydrocyclone Tests
The hydrocyclone testing aims to remove contaminants from the raw material used in the paint bentonite production process, specifically calcite, biotite, feldspar, and quartz. Before being processed in a hydrocyclone, natural bentonite must be thoroughly dissolved in water using the “Geaves Mixer” or alternative instruments. The bentonite should then eliminate all of its impurities, but Ca-bentonite and Na-bentonite could not be separated. For this reason, the overflow products from the hydrocyclone were decanted before the ion exchange procedure to purify the bentonite further.
Taking Decantation Tests
The decantation technique should produce rich Na-bentonite products from natural bentonite. Na-bentonite has a higher swelling capacity than Ca-bentonite, and because Ca-bentonite does not form a colloidal structure in water, Na-bentonite stays suspended. Investigating various pulp densities, decantation times, and stages is also necessary.
Taking Ion Exchange Tests
To lower the Ca +2 ion content and produce a rich Na-bentonite, the product with a reasonably high Na content needs to be activated with sodium carbonate (NazCO3). The rich Na-bentonite product must be obtained after the hydrocycloning and decantation studies were in reaction with quaternary ammonium salts to create the organo-clay. As a result, the organo-molecules present in the structure of the quaternary ammonium salts take the place of the variable Na cations that are present in the Na-bentonite structure.
The Whitening Process
For the paint industry, rheological agents’ color is a crucial factor. Paint will have color issues if the tint is not white. In some cases, the produced organo-clay has a yellow and light brown tint, undesirable for use as a rheological additive, and white or Super White Bentonite for Paint applications. The product must first be washed at least four times to remove Na-salts and non-reacted quaternary ammonium salts before being treated with H2SO4 solution, which has a pH value of 2.5, before filtering the organo-clay cake to get the white color.
The Filtering-Washing and Drying
After the natural bentonite has undergone the ion exchange procedure, the filtered products should be acquired by filtering-washing, and conductivity measurements should be performed using the “Hanna” or other comparable equipment. A comparison should be made between the experimentally produced organo-clays and a commercial rheological additive substance called Tixogel used in solvent-based paint to describe the quality of the organo-clays.
Paint Bentonite Applications
The ability of bentonite to swell, its nontoxicity, and its chemical resistance have made it an essential component of industrial production, particularly in drilling mud, construction, agriculture, water treatment, and many other regions. Even though this is a relatively tiny application for this substance, bentonite plays an essential role in paint and coating. Because of its excellent thickening capacity (typically used as a thickener for solvent and water-based paints), suspending, good thixotropy, high viscosity, and anti-sagging qualities, bentonite is highly valued in the manufacture of paint. Organic bentonite clay derivatives are still being investigated and altered to find new paint and coating uses.
A wide range of paints and coatings can be made using Coating Bentonite for Paint or other related applications:
- Home paints, both interior and exterior;
- Paints and coatings high in zinc;
- Alkyd paints and resin coatings for decorative purposes;
- Oil-sensitive and anti-corrosive paints and coatings;
- Paints made of epoxy and non-solvent epoxy paints;
- Road paints and bituminous (as an emulsifier, binder, and rheological modifier);
- Paints made of chlorinated rubber (used in chlorinated rubber protective systems)
- Aerosols with many uses (as a suspension agent) and water-based aerosol paints and coatings (e.g., for marking paint);
- Paints for ships;
- Antibacterial and antiseptic paints.
Paint Bentonite as Thickening Agent
Bentonite is a natural substance that is harmless and less expensive than polymer-based thickeners. It is commonly used as a thickening agent in paints. This substance can be altered with inorganic or organic substances to create a gel-like structure suitable for use as a thickening agent in water-based paints.
Paint Bentonite as a Filler
To create new waterproof building paint with waterproof and water-resistant capabilities, wollastonite, talc, and light calcium carbonate are used as fillers in addition to calcium bentonite, an inorganic mineral primary material in raw material. The base material and the filler are combined, crushed, distributed, and recombined. When bentonite slurry interacts with a polyvinyl alcohol solution, hydrophilic bentonite is changed into hydrophobic bentonite, improving its water resistance properties. Additionally, a common paint’s physical adsorption mode is transformed into an ion adsorption mode, enhancing the paint’s ability to resist washing and brushing.
About Iran Bentonite Co’s Product
Paint bentonite is a multipurpose substance with unique properties, making it a perfect choice as a Thickening and Viscosifying Agent suitable for painting and coating. Still, in-demand companies must know that the substance cannot be regarded as a reliable ingredient unless produced using high-quality raw materials and cutting-edge equipment. In this case, every customer around the world needs to find a reputable producer with advanced factories that has perfect access to required mines and also employs professionals to perform the necessary processes.
Iran bentonite Co. is a trustworthy manufacturer and supplier of different grades of bentonite. Paint bentonites produced by this Iran Bentonite manufacturer (so-called Иран производитель бентонита bu Russian) hold high physiochemical properties. They are excellent thickeners because of their suspension properties. They have good thixotropy to lessen sedimentation and leaking. Low shear viscosity is also provided by its products, which prevents collapse. Customers worldwide can rely on this Iran bentonite supplier for pure paint bentonite, excellent packing, and logistics. Our products are packed based on international rules to ensure safe transportation; still, you can go for your desired way of packing and shipping. In this case, please connect with our experts.
Conclusion
Paint bentonite is a grade of bentonite clay with unique properties suitable for special applications. On an industrial scale, sodium bentonite and calcium bentonite are the two most effective forms of this substance, each with distinctly different bonding capabilities. The qualities of paint bentonite, such as their strong thickening capacity (usually used as a thickener for solvent and water-based paints), suspending, good thixotropy, high viscosity, and anti-sagging, make them recognized globally for the manufacturing of paint. Each grade of bentonite must be produced in a specific way, and being cautious about particular requirements to reach the desired properties; for instance, in manufacturing our intended grade, the whitening process is vital. This material serves as an ingredient in various paints, including house paints, multipurpose aerosols, decorative alkyd paints, anti-corrosive and oil-sensitive paints, marine paints, and many others.
