Bentonite is a clay derived from volcanic ash that is composed of montmorillonite and smectite minerals. Bentonite clay comes in two commercial varieties: calcium bentonite and sodium bentonite. Sodium bentonite has absorbent properties and swells when it comes in contact with water. Calcium bentonite does not expand when liquid is added. Both types work as an effective binding agent.
Drilling Benefits
According to The Living Clay Company, sodium bentonite's ability to expand allows it to play a major role in the gas and oil drilling industries. Drillers will pump sodium bentonite, water and additional additives through the drill string. The resulting fluid will rise up along the outer portions of the drill string, carrying crushed rock and soil with it. Sodium bentonite's swelling nature makes it useful for sealing up drill holes, which helps to avoid ruptures and seepage.
Iron Ore Benefits
Most of the iron ore that is produced in the United States is processed into pellets. Once they are crushed into a powder, the ores are put through a variety of mechanical processes, which eliminate minerals and waste materials, leaving only a concentration of iron mineral dust. By adding sodium bentonite and water to the dust, it is allowed to bind to the dust, forming solid iron pellets. Once they have been tumbled and fired, the pellets will be ready for use in the production of steel.
Medical Benefits
According to Eyton's Earth, bentonite serves as both an active ingredient and a filler in personal care products and medicine. It is often used as a component of creams, compresses, lotions and topical anti-irritants. The binding properties in bentonite make it a strong antidote used for heavy metal poisoning. Alternative health practitioners often use bentonite clay to aid in digestion, alleviate Crohn's symptoms and irritable bowel syndrome, to treat acne and for detoxification.
Foundry Benefits
Foundries often use bentonite as a bonding material during the sand casting process. The bentonite bonds the sand particles together to form molds that are thermally stable. These molds are used for molten iron, brass, steel, aluminum and copper. Sodium bentonite is the binding agent that is preferred for use in the bonding of foundry sands and metals. From time to time, calcium bentonite will be used because it is able to enhance the flowability of the sand. Bentonite is also used to clean any impurities from melted metals before they are poured.
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