Part 1: Product Overview

Sodium Bentonite is a water-bearing clay mineral mainly composed of montmorillonite, with Na⁺ as the dominant exchangeable cation between layers. Its general chemical formula is Naₓ(H₂O)₄(Al₂₋ₓMg₀.₈₃)Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂. Classified by the alkaline coefficient (≥ 1), sodium bentonite is the highest-performance grade in the bentonite family.

Our sodium bentonite products include natural sodium bentonite and artificially modified sodium bentonite series. High-quality calcium bentonite is selected and modified through wet or dry processes to fully replace Ca²⁺ with Na⁺ between montmorillonite layers, thus achieving superior properties over calcium bentonite.

The product features high expansion, high bonding, high suspension, and high thixotropy, making it an irreplaceable high-end basic material for metallurgy, drilling, foundry, environmental protection, and other industries.

Part 2: Core Advantages and Characteristics

Excellent Expansion Performance

Slow water absorption rate, but high water absorption and large expansion ratio. Expansion volume: 25–50 ml/g. Volume can expand dozens of times when encountering water.

Outstanding Dispersion and Suspension Properties

Good dispersion in aqueous media; colloidal value ≥ 99 ml/15g. Forms stable colloidal suspensions with excellent thixotropy, viscosity, and lubricity.

Strong Cation Exchange Capacity

High cation exchange capacity; methylene blue absorption ≥ 80 mmol/100g. Effectively adsorbs heavy metal ions and organic pollutants.

Excellent Thermal Stability

Good thermal stability and high-temperature resistance. Maintains structural stability under high temperatures in metallurgical pelletizing and foundry applications.

High Plasticity and Bonding Strength

High plasticity and strong bonding capacity; high hot-wet tensile strength and dry compressive strength. Ideal binder for foundry molding sand.

High pH and Good Chemical Stability

pH value: 8.9–10.Chemically stable and retains performance in various media.

Natural Sodium Bentonite vs. Artificially Modified Sodium Bentonite

Natural Sodium Bentonite	Greater expansion force, high c-axis ordering, fine grain size, stronger dispersibility.
Artificially Modified Sodium Bentonite	Customizable performance, controllable modification conditions, suitable for diverse industrial requirements.

Part 3: Main Application Fields

Known as the "universal clay", sodium bentonite is widely used in numerous sectors from traditional industries to high-end manufacturing. It has been applied in 24 fields and over 100 departments abroad, with more than 300 end products.

1. Metallurgical Industry – Iron Ore Pellet Binder

Sodium bentonite is mostly used as a binder for iron ore concentrate pellets.

Mechanism

Uses high bonding and thermal stability to produce uniform pellets with good reducibility.

Dosage

20–25 kg per ton of iron ore concentrate pellets.

Effects

Improves pellet strength, enhances reducibility, reduces pulverization rate.

Market Status

Metallurgical pelletizing accounts for about 32% of total bentonite consumption, dominated by sodium bentonite.

2. Drilling Engineering – Drilling Mud Suspending Agent (Core Application)

Used in oil and gas drilling to prepare drilling mud with high rheology and thixotropy.

Mud Properties

Good suspension, thixotropy, and filtration control; effectively carries cuttings and stabilizes the wellbore.

Engineering Value

Removes cuttings, reduces fluid loss, improves wellbore integrity, lowers drilling accident rates.

Scope

Onshore and offshore drilling operations.

3. Mechanical Foundry – Molding Sand Binder

Used as a binder in foundry molding sand, with better performance than calcium bentonite.

Defect Prevention

Good air permeability, avoiding defects such as blowholes, sand inclusion, and peeling, greatly reducing reject rates.

Precision Improvement

Ensures casting accuracy and smoothness; high temperature resistance and easy sand removal.

Performance Index

Wet compressive strength ≥ 0.23 MPa, high hot-wet tensile and dry compressive strength.

4. Organic Bentonite Raw Material (Deep Processing Base)

Sodium bentonite is an essential raw material for organic bentonite production.Na⁺ has a larger hydrated ionic radius than Ca²⁺, providing larger interlayer spacing favorable for organic cation exchange.

Organic Bentonite Uses

Anti-settling agent and thickener for coatings; thickener for high-temperature grease; consistency and permeability regulator for printing inks.

Requirement

Only sodium bentonite can be used, not calcium bentonite.

5. Textile Printing and Dyeing Industry

Used as filler, bleaching agent, antistatic coating; can replace starch for sizing and printing paste.

Sizing Agent

Replaces starch for yarn sizing, reducing costs.

Printing Paste

Thickener and suspending agent for printing coatings.

Antistatic

Imparts antistatic properties to fabrics.

6. Paper Industry

Paper filler

Improves brightness and smoothness of paper.

Coating pigment

Pigment and binder for coated paper.

7. Food Industry (High-end Application)

Used in food industry due to high purity and safety.

Oil decolorization

Decolorization and purification of animal and vegetable oils (after activation).

Liquor clarification

Clarification of wine, fruit juice, and stabilization of beer.

Food-grade standard

Strict control of heavy metals and harmful substances.

8. Coatings and Adhesives

Water-based Coatings

Thickener and anti-settling agent with stable suspension and thickening properties.

Adhesives

Used in white latex, floor adhesive, paste, etc., due to strong bonding.

9. Environmental Protection and Engineering

Waterproofing and Anti-seepage

Used in waterproof blankets and landfill liners.

Wastewater Treatment

Adsorbent for heavy metals and organic pollutants.

Radioactive Waste Treatment

Absorbent for radioactive waste.

10. Other Special Applications

Cat Litter

Clumping material for pet cat litter.

Emulsified Asphalt

Stabilizer for asphalt emulsification.

Desiccant/Moisture Absorbent

Uses strong hygroscopicity.

4A Molecular Sieve Raw Material

Synthesis of 4A zeolite from bentonite.

Petroleum Industry

Preparation of tar-water emulsions.

Part 6: Product Specifications and Technical Parameters

Product Series Table

Product Type	Mesh Size	Montmorillonite Content (%)	Expansion Volume (ml/g)	Main Application
Metallurgical Pellet Grade	200/325 mesh	≥ 80	≥ 30	Iron ore pellet binder
Drilling Mud Grade	200/325 mesh	≥ 70	≥ 25	Drilling mud suspending agent
Precision Casting Grade	200/270/325 mesh	≥ 80	≥ 30	Foundry molding sand binder
Organic Bentonite Grade	200/325 mesh	≥ 85	≥ 35	Organic bentonite production
Coating Grade	325/400 mesh	≥ 75	≥ 25	Water-based coating thickener
Paper Grade	325 mesh	≥ 70	≥ 20	Paper filler
Food/Pharma Grade	200/325 mesh	≥ 85	≥ 30	Oil decolorization, liquor clarification
Environmental Grade	100/200 mesh	≥ 75	≥ 25	Waterproof blankets, landfills
Natural Sodium Grade	200/325 mesh	70–88	30–50	High-end applications, export

Technical Specifications of Sodium Bentonite

Item	Unit	Index
Montmorillonite Content	%	60–88
Expansion Volume	ml/g	25–50
Colloidal Value	ml/15g	≥ 99
2h Water Absorption Rate	%	250–350
Moisture Content	%	≤ 12
Wet Compressive Strength	MPa	≥ 0.23
Methylene Blue Absorption	mmol/100g	≥ 80
Na₂O Content	%	≥ 1.28
pH Value	–	8.9–10
Particle Size (200/325 mesh)	%	≥ 95