Bentonite
Sodium bentonite clay for drilling-fluid base, civil engineering slurry walls, and foundry sand bond. API 13A grades available.
Overview
Bentonite is a sodium-rich clay mineral — primarily montmorillonite — that swells dramatically when hydrated, forming a gel-like suspension prized for its viscosity, filtrate control, and wellbore-sealing properties. Five Rivers Materials supplies bentonite in both API 13A drilling grade and industrial grades for civil engineering, foundry, and industrial applications.
In drilling operations, bentonite is the foundational mud-building chemical — typically 20–30 lb/bbl in conventional water-based mud systems. The clay’s plate-like particle structure builds viscosity at low concentrations, controls filtrate loss into the formation, and provides shale inhibition in reactive formations. Industrial-grade bentonite serves civil engineering (slurry walls, tunneling), foundry green sand bonding, iron ore pelletizing, and geosynthetic clay liner manufacturing.
Technical Specifications
Packaging Options
Applications by Industry
Oil & Gas
- ◢ Drilling-fluid viscosifier — primary mud-building agent
- ◢ Filtrate control in water-based muds
- ◢ Wellbore stability — shale inhibition
- ◢ Cement additive — lost-circulation control
- ◢ Horizontal drilling — hole cleaning
Industrial
- ◢ Civil engineering — slurry walls, diaphragm walls, tunneling
- ◢ Foundry — green sand bond
- ◢ Iron ore pelletizing binder
- ◢ Cat litter and absorbent products
- ◢ Geosynthetic clay liners — landfill, pond
Regulatory & Certifications
Storage & Handling
Stocking & Logistics
Inventory held at the operational hubs listed below. Direct FCL from origin (Mumbai / Ahmedabad / China) available for buyers requiring custom specs, branded packaging, or origin documentation.