Why bentonite powder is used in pile foundation work?/ What is bentonite powder?

 💁. What is bentonite powder?

Bentonite is a type of clay material, formed due to the weathering of volcanic ash. They are mined from the quarry & crushed into fine powder.

The different types of bentonite are 

1. Sodium bentonite.

2. Calcium bentonite.

3. Potassium bentonite.

In the construction industry, sodium bentonite is used in pile foundation works.

💁. Why bentonite powder is used in pile foundation work?

Bentonite has high water-absorbent properties. It swells considerably, nearly 8 times its volume after absorbing water. 

Sodium bentonite is thixotropic in nature, which makes them suitable for soil stabilization work.

The bentonite slurry contains cations( Na+) which bring stability to the boring soil surface due to electrically charged ions.

So, bentonite slurry is used to prevent the collapse of the soil in the pile bore to a larger extent.

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👀. Why do we have to break the pile head after casting?

💁. What are the advantages of using bentonite slurry in pile foundations?

Advantages:

1. Bentonite prevents the collapse of the soil by forming a layer over the exposed pile foundation surface.

2. Reduces the volume of extra concrete, needed to fill the unnecessary cavities formed due to the fall of soil.

3. Bentonite helps to maintain the quality of concrete in the pile foundation. If bentonite is not used, the soil particles may get mixed with the poured concrete, resulting in a lower grade of concrete.

4. Bentonite acts as a lubricant material for the pile driving equipment & hammers reducing the boring friction.

5. By forming a barrier coat over the soil, bentonite reduces the volume of extra collapsed soil. This helps to complete the work at a faster rate.

To get the answer to more such construction-related FAQs, click here.

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