EFFECT OF EXCHANGEABLE BASES ON TORSION PROPERTIES OF CLAYS*

Abstract

A bstract Torsion properties of a plastic fire clay, a ball clay, two flint fire clays, a bentonite, and Georgia kaolin were studied. The effect of exchangeable bases on the surface of the clay particles on stress‐strain relationships was established. The widest differences, in general, were found in the sodium and hydrogen forms of the various bodies. A rational explanation of the behavior of clays with different exchangeable bases lies in the fact that their colloidal natures govern to a large degree their workable characteristics, and colloidal properties, in turn, are dependent on the water film surrounding the particle. The nature of the water film is influenced by the kind and the nature of the charges in the ion atmosphere surrounding the particles and may be changed by replacing an exchangeable base with another cation.