The viscosity of dispersion of polyglycol/KCl/montmorillonite as shear rate increases is studied by RS75 Haake rheometer. It turns out that the dispersion shows a complex transition process of shear- thinning → shear-thickening → shear-thinning as the increase of shear rate when polyglycol and KCl are present together in a certain range of concentrations, shear thickening weakens gradually. The photographs of TEM indicate that KCl causes montmorillonite to aggregate together and polyglycol solely leads to slight flocculation in montmorillonite dispersion. When both of them are present, the dispersion forms sterically stable state of strip structure.

Key words: SHEAR RATE, POLYGLYCOL, DISPERSE SYSTEM, THICKENERS, RHEOLOGY, PHENOMENA, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY