This work had as objective to study the influence of the tool type, of the speed and of the stirring time in the rheological properties of suspensions of four samples of sodic bentonite clays supplied by industry from the state of Paraíba, Brazil. A factorial design of the type 2³ was developed to evaluate the entrance factors (tool type, speed and stirring time) in the apparent and plastic viscosities and fluid loss. The suspensions in the concentration of 4.86% (24.3 g of clay in 500 mL of water) using tools of the type corrugated disk and butterfly form, two speeds (10,000 rpm and 17,000 rpm) and two stirring time (10 and 20 min) were prepared. The apparent and plastic viscosities were measured in viscometer Fann 35A, and the fluid loss, in presses filter Fann. Through the regression of the experimental data, it was verified that the entrance variables don't present significant influences in the rheological properties of the studied dispersions, as well as, that just one presents rheological behavior in agreement with the effective norms for use as thixotropic agent for water based drilling fluids.
factorial design; bentonite; rheological properties; drilling fluids
