• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.116-123
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• 2011

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.259-272
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• 2002

This study was tried to interpret the important major factors controlling some physicochemical properties by comparing mineralogical and physicochemical characteristics such as pH, cation exchange capacity, Methylene Blue adsorption amount, swelling, viscosity, strength (compressional and tensile), and surface area etc. Investigated bentonite samples are five Korean samples from Dusan, Naa, Oksan, Dongyang, and Yeonil deposits and two Japanese bentonites from Tsukinuno and Tomioka deposits which were formed under a similar geological environment of the Tertiary basin. Tsukinuno bentonite is only natural Na-type bentonite and the others are all Ca-type bentonites. Most of the properties are not explained by the montmorillonite content only though the most important factor controlling the physicochemical properties is the montmorillonite content. The layer charge of montmorillonite will strongly control cation exchange capacity and Methylene Blue adsorption. Zeolite bearing bentonites show the strong alkaline character and causes the increase of cation exchange capacity, however decrease swelling, viscosity and strengths. Pyrite bearing bentonites decrease green compressional strength and wet tensile strength. The exchangeable interlayer cations control some physicochemical properties. Na-type bentonite than Ca-type shows more strong alkaline character and much more advanced swelling and viscosity. Also the size and thickness of montmorillonite flakes seem to control some physicochemical properties. Bentonite mainly composed of montmorillonite of very thin and large flakes is characterized by the very high surface area, cation exchange capacity, viscosity, swelling, Methylene Blue adsorption, green compressional strength and wet tensile strength. Domestic Dusan bentonite shows the most excellent physicochemical properties, which is due to the high content(84%) and very well crystallinity of montmorillonite.