Thursday, 4 September 2025

Assessment of Mechanical Properties of Clay Containing Smectite and Carbonate | Chapter 2 | Chemical and Materials Sciences - Developments and Innovations Vol. 4

 

The present study highlights about mechanical properties of clay containing smectite and carbonate. Numerous research has examined the relationship between the mechanical behavior and physicochemical characteristics of clays. Because they are relevant to various fields, such as cleanup, mud drilling, civil engineering, and the storage of radioactive and hazardous waste, the mechanical properties of clays are very significant. The smectite used in this work is from southwestern Tunisia, specifically from Oued Tfal, near the town of Gafsa, and is referred to as “OT”. This study involved characterizing the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the raw clay following treatment with hydrochloric acid and purification. The work aims at elucidating the influence of the pure clay fraction, including compensating cations, on the clay’s hydromechanical properties. The thermal study sample revealed 32.5% of carbonates in the raw clay. The elimination of carbonates by acid attack yielded the following results: If treatment by 0.5M HCl represents a total elimination of carbonates, the clay fraction probably contains altered layers. To eliminate the excess carbonate (6.03%), the sample was treated with 0.4 M HCl without deterioration of the structure of the silicate fraction. The hydromechanical study of three clay samples (raw (OT), purified (OTNa), and 0.4M HCl-treated) clearly showed the relationship between the cation exchange capacity, the percentage of carbonate content, and the swelling pressure. In the oedometer-based mechanical study, the measures of swelling pressures under constant load yielded values of 15.46, 90.00, and 274.60 kPa for OT, OT (0.4), and OTNa, respectively. These values highlight the high swelling of the clay fraction of the deposit of Oued Tfal, and the effect of carbonate on the mechanical stability of this clay, as 6% carbonates significantly altered the swelling properties of the clay.

 

 

Author(s) Details

 

M. Mhamdi

Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy LAMEEE (LAM3E), Science Faculty of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, 2112 Gafsa, Tunisia, Laboratory of Applications of Chemistry to Natural Resources and Substances and the Environment (LACReSNE), Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia and Chemistry Department, Al Baha University, Al Bahah, Saudi Arabia.

 

 

N. Gasmi

Laboratory of Applications of Chemistry to Natural Resources and Substances and the Environment (LACReSNE), Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia.

E. Elaloui

Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy LAMEEE (LAM3E), Science Faculty of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, 2112 Gafsa, Tunisia.

N. Kbir-Ariguib

Laboratory of Applications of Chemistry to Natural Resources and Substances and the Environment (LACReSNE), Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia.

M. Trabelsi -Ayadi

Laboratory of Applications of Chemistry to Natural Resources and Substances and the Environment (LACReSNE), Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cmsdi/v4/788

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