Equilibrium Sediment Volume or Height and Redispersion

For a structured suspension, obtained by controlled flocculation or addition of thickeners (such as polysaccharides, clays or oxides), the floes sediment at a rate dependent on the size and porosity of the aggregated mass. After this initial sedimentation, compaction and rearrangement of the floe structure occurs, a phenomenon referred to as consolidation. 

Normally, in sediment volume measurements, one compares the initial volume Vo (or height Hq) with the ultimately reached value V (or H). A colloidally stable suspension gives a close-packed structure with relatively small sediment volume (dilatant sediment referred to as clay). A weakly flocculated or structured suspension gives a more open sediment and hence a higher sediment volume. Thus by comparing the relative sediment volume V/Vo or height H/Hq, one can distinguish between a clayed and flocculated suspension. 

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Bulk Properties of Suspensions Equilibrium Sediment Volume (or Height) and Redispersion... 

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