Drilling Slurry Pro
Bentonite -Normally used in many countries
(mineral)
- Applying hydrostatic pressure from slurry
in the shaft to stabilize coarse
unconsolidated soil.
- Normally used for D- Wall
Polymer - Self- Cleaning, much easier to mix and
(Synthetic) even be mixed in the shaft.
- Much Cleaner to work with, no residual
muddy mess around the pile.
- Disposal is much easier cause can simply
broken down with an oxidizer e.g. calcium
hypochlorite.
- Clay inhibitor, prevent swelling and
sticking of clay.
- quickly broken down when in contact with
cement’s high alkalinity and calcium
content.
Cons
- A bentonite platelet filter
cake constantly builds up with
time and can become a
concern on skin friction and
load bearing capacity of a
shaft.
- The slurry must be circulated
through a mechanical solids
removal system or be replaced
by fresh clean slurry before
placing with concrete.
- Need to wait to pass the
density and sand content
specs before pouring cement.
-Polymer slurries should not
been used in
very permeable soils where
the cake would not have time
to form. In soils without fines
it can be necessary to add a
few kg of bentonite per m3 as
an additive .
In all cases a polymer slurry
should be checked like a
bentonite slurry.