colloidal | Energy Glossary

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colloidal

1. adj. [Drilling Fluids]

Referring to a finely divided, solid material, which when dispersed in a liquid medium scatters a light beam and does not settle by gravity; such particles are usually less than 2 microns in diameter. Some drilling fluid materials such as bentonite clay, starch particles and many polymers become colloidal when used in a mud. Oil muds contain colloidal emulsion droplets, organophilic clays and fatty-acid soap micelles.

See related terms: alumclay-water interactioncolloidcolloidal solidsmicelleoil mudoil-mud emulsifierpeptizing agentpolymerprehydration

Illustration of the size of a colloid
Illustration of the size of a colloid.