Published Paper Details:

An evaluation was conducted on the foundry properties of selected Nigerian Bentonite Clays to address the demand in foundry, steel, and metallurgical industries, as well as future industrial development. Samples were collected from six locations in four states of Nigeria, with five different points sampled from each location for investigation. Using the cone and quartering technique, the samples were homogenized to obtain representative samples, which were then subjected to tests to determine their foundry properties.The chemical composition of the raw samples was compared favorably with Bomu, Amake, and Yobe bentonite clay deposits in Nigeria, as well as Wyoming bentonite in the USA. Based on the CaO content in their chemical composition, the clay samples were classified as calcium-based Bentonite clay. The cation exchange capacity of Samples A (83.973) and E (72.453) fell within the standard value range (70-120) for Montmorillonite. Conversely, Samples B (60.977), C (55.14), D (65.405), and F (62.289) slightly fell below the standard value range for Montmorillonite. However, these results still indicated that the samples are suitable for applications in the foundry industry, as they compared well with values (64-105) for Wyoming bentonite.The pH values of samples A, B, C, E, and F indicated that they are basic clays, while sample D is an acidic clay. Based on these findings, the clay samples are deemed suitable for application in the foundry industry and can be used for commercial sand casting. It is recommended to conduct further investigations into the selected Bentonite samples for other industrial applications. Additionally, exploring Bentonite clay deposits in other parts of Nigeria where research is lacking would be beneficial in determining their properties and usefulness as binding agents in the foundry industry, thereby contributing to the sustainability of our economy and industrial growth.