When drilling with bentonite, a protective “filter cake” is formed on the borehole wall reducing the level of soil permeability and increasing stability. The circulating bentonite slurry removes the drilled cuttings bringing them to the surface. The bentonite mixture also exerts hydraulic pressure preventing any collapse of the walls even when the excavation is below the water table. Bentonite slurry also acts as a lubricant for drilling tools.
In slurry wall construction, bentonite is used to contain contaminated groundwater, dewater excavations and stabilize dams, levees, and other similar structures. Bentonite slurry has a slightly higher specific gravity than water, creating a positive hydrostatic head that stabilizes the sides of the trench to hold soil particles together and prevent collapse. The backfill material, some of which may contain various soil waste materials, bentonite and cement, provides an impervious barrier and over time will set to final form.
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