Preparation and Characterization of Palygorskite/PAM Composited Thickener

Palygorskite/polyacrylamide (PAM) composited thickeners were prepared via in-situ polymerization. To optimize the preparation, the dependence of the viscosity, rheological properties and electrolyte resistance of the composited thickeners on the initiator concentrations, sodium hydroxide concentrations and palygorskite contents was investigated. By measuring their dynamic rheological properties, thickening mechanism of composited thickeners was explored. The composited thickeners showed excellent electrolyte resistance which represented good synergistic effect of inorganic/organic composited thickener.