What's Properties of Inorganic attapulgite clay Rheology Modifiers

Attapulgite clay Rheology modifiers are common additives in a wide range of products and industries. The scientists use them to obtain desired product properties, from thickness of a cream or better pouring properties of a gel in cosmetic industry to reducing viscosity of bitumen in asphalt production. All rheology modifiers can be categorized in two main groups: organic and inorganic modifiers.

Inorganic Rheology Modifiers Chemistry and Properties

Inorganic rheology modifiers are based on inorganic substances such as silicas and clays. Most come in a form of a powder and show thixotropic shear-thinning behavior and high yield values.

This non-Newtonian behavior is characterized by viscosity decrease with shear rate increase and its time dependent recovery after shearing, features particularly desirable for suspending and gelling agents which is the most common use of inorganic rheology modifiers.

Properties of inorganic rheology modifiers differ from one to another, and even in the same modifier type, depending on chemistry of a modifier, particle sizes, crystallinity and other characteristics.