Industry uses bentonite more for the physical properties it can develop
than for its chemical composition. Accordingly, the greatest tonnage of
bentonite is used annually for bonding, plasticizing, or suspending purposes.
In these applications, the bentonite is usually in contact with water. Thus the
clay-water characteristics are of primary importance to industry. The
chemical composition of the bentonite is a consideration only because changes
in physical properties accompany changes in chemical composition. There
arc some exceptions, and generally these can be described as instances where
the clay chemistry, as a component in a product, could be a complicating
factor.