BENTONITE – Additive for Paints, Coatings and Construc-
tion Material
LAVIOTHIX AND LAVIOKOLL – BENTONITE RHEOLOGY ADDITIVES FOR WATER BASED SYSTEMS
(PART 2)
LAVIOTHIX® - MINERAL RHEOLOGY ADDITIVES
FOR WATER BASED SYSTEMS
Laviothix® products are of inorganic origin and
they are based on clays, which provide espe-
cially water-based formulations high pseudo-
plastic and thixotropic behavior. They are
thickening and anti-settling agents, which are
based on the selected, purified and activated
white bentonite clay with high montmorillo-
nite content. Activity is closely correlated to
the hydration capacity and it produces micron-
ic and submicronic particles in dispersion, with
a high specific surface area. These particles
form an internal three-dimensional structure,
a card-house-like "body", in which the particles
and fillers of the formulation can be incorpo-
rated. These particles are responsible
AUTHOR: DR. ELENA MENICAGLI
LAVIOSA CHIMICA MINERARIA SPA
for the thixotropic, anti-settling, absorbing and
binding properties of the product.
What is bentonite?
Bentonite, also called montmorillonite, is a
specific clay mineral of the smectite group. It is
a sodium-aluminium hydrosilicate, a layered
silicate with a three-layer structure consisting
of two tetrahedral layers. An aluminum octa-
hedron is sandwiched between. The aluminum
of the octahedron layer can be replaced by
magnesium, which results in a surplus of nega-
tive charge. This negative charge is compen-
sated by different mono-and bivalent cations
(Ca, Mg, Na, and others).
Due to the typical crystal structure the ele-
mentary particles of the montmorillonite have
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BENTONITE – Additive for Paints, Coatings and Construc-
tion Material

the shape of lamellas. These are held by the • Temperature resistance

Van der Waals forces in stacks, but they can
also be "delaminated" and dispersed in water
to form submicron particles.
A large surface area (specific surface area) is
developed with a remarkable value of 800
m2/g.
The lamellae of the montmorillonite have on
the surface a high negative charge and at the
edges a low residue of positive charge. Laviosa
products are treated bentonites with a high
specific surface area and a high cation ex-
change capacity. The raw materials are select-
ed in the mine and treated to obtain high-
performance products.
The typical dosing quantity is 0.3 to 3.0% de-
pending on the application and the effect
wanted.
• Very high pH-stability
• Improves Hold Out properties
The most important additive for these appli-
cations is cellulose ether as it provides thick-
ening and water retention. System and pro-
cessing properties can be substantially im-
proved by the addition of thickening agents
based on clays in combination with cellulose
ethers.
For the modification of flow and application
properties clays are used in a variety of con-
struction systems. They are used together
with cellulose-ether.

LAVIOKOLL® - MINERAL RHEOLOGY ADDITIVE

FOF CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS

Main features and applications

For building applications such as mortar, plas-
ter, stucco, floor systems and construction
adhesives flow control is important.

The main advantages of LAVIOTHIX® are:

• Reduction of the current cellulose
thixotropic agent (30%)
• Total replacement of the current mineral
thixotropic agent
• Excellent resistance to microbial attack

AUTHOR: DR. ELENA MENICAGLI

LAVIOSA CHIMICA MINERARIA SPA Article from: inside acat 13/2011, page 2 of 4
 BENTONITE – Additive for Paints, Coatings and Construc-
tion Material

Ratio and substitution amount depend on the
efficiency of the thickener and on water reten-
tion properties of the clay used.
Features and Performance
The special network of the bentonite clays
adds thixotropic flow behaviour to the prod-
uct. At low shear rates the bentonite-network
generates a relatively high viscosity. By mixing,
pumping or smoothing the shear forces in-
crease, the network collapses, viscosity de-
creases and easy processing is possible now.
When the shear forces are reduced the lamel-
lae network is built up again and viscosity in-
creases. This is a typical thixotropic behaviour.
Moreover, the lamellae of the clay mineral act
as a lubricant. Friction between sand and other
particles in the formulation is reduced, and
this causes much easier filling and smoothing,
and as pumping pressure is reduced the pump-
ing performance is much better.
Yield point
The strong network formation is used in con-
struction systems and others to modify flow
properties in order to avoid sagging on vertical
surfaces and setting of solid particles in the
finished product. The performance of the flow
properties is expressed in the rheological yield
point. In rheology the yield point is defined as
the force that is required to bring a material to
flow.
Compared to cellulose ethers, which have no
significant yield point, bentonites establish a
network with a high yield point. Sagging and
stability can be improved and setting as well as
the separation of water, the so-called bleed-
ing, can be reduced.

Applications with Laviothix®-Products:

Laviothix® P0 Laviothix® P1 Laviothix® P100 Laviothix® S1 Laviothix® SE

Dispersion paint suitable good good good good
Epoxy system good
Acrylic system suitable good suitable good
Sealing material suitable
Foundry layers good suitable good suitable good
Building coating material suitable suitable good suitable good
Anti-setting in wood impregnations good suitable
Anti-setting in opaque wood coatings suitable good

AUTHOR: DR. ELENA MENICAGLI

LAVIOSA CHIMICA MINERARIA SPA Article from: inside acat 13/2011, page 3 of 4
 BENTONITE – Additive for Paints, Coatings and Construc-
tion Material

Water Retention Slipping

The water retention capacity is very important
for the hydraulic setting of cement and gyp-
sum. Although bentonite has a large surface,
which adsorbs water, compared to the cellu-
lose ether water retention is worse. Therefore,
bentonite can replace cellulose ethers only
partially.
Due to the use of cellulose ether or dispersion
powders the lamella of the clay material can
reduce the adhesiveness on the tools and
hence the processing properties are improved
in terms of both surface quality and workabil-
ity.

Applications with Laviokoll®-Products:

Laviokoll ® C0 Laviokoll ® C1 Laviokoll ® C4 Laviokoll ® C10 Laviokoll ® C100 Laviokoll ® S1 Laviokoll ® S10
Dry products
Cement-based plaster recommended
Chalk/ cement plaster suitable recommended
Gypsum plaster recommended recommended suitable
Thermal insulation composite systems recommended suitable
Tile glue - cement-based suitable suitable recommended
Masonry mortar suitable suitable recommended suitable
Levelling mortar recommended recommended suitable
Viscous products
Plastic plaster recommended recommended recommended
Dispersion tile glue suitable suitable

AUTHOR: DR. ELENA MENICAGLI

LAVIOSA CHIMICA MINERARIA SPA Article from: inside acat 13/2011, page 4 of 4