INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF A NIGERIAN AND A LIBERIAN BENTONITE FOR FOUNDRY APPLICATION

A Nigerian, and a Liberian Bentonite has been studied. The two Bentonite samples which were obtained from the natural geological source were critically studied. The study covered the physical, chemical, and the foundry properties of the two Bentonites. The sieve analysis of the sand used for the investigation of the foundry properties was also carried out. The result showed that the Liberian Bentonite is a sodium based Bentonite, with a Na2O content of 1.91% with only traces of CaO. The Bentonite equally had a swelling index of 15, and green shear and compression strengths of 6.90KN/m2 and 65.50KN/m2.The Nigerian Bentonite is more or less a calcium based Bentonite with a CaO content of 2.83%, swelling index of 6.67, the green shear and compression strengths are less than those of the Liberian Bentonite. The two Bentonites however, have good foundry properties, which meets foundry standards