Resumen

CERPA, A. et al. Estudio comparativo del comportamiento reológico de muestras lateríticas de diferentes yacimientos que procesa la Empresa Moa Niquel S.A.. Rev. LatinAm. Met. Mat. [online]. 2003, vol.23, n.1, pp.03-08. ISSN 0255-6952.

    In this work it is carried out a comparative study of the rheological behavior of different latherites, depending on the pH and solids concentration. To understand the different behaviors, it was formerly characterized the mineralogy and chemical colloidal properties of the samples studied.     The mineralogical characterization resulted that samples are constituted by different proportions of goethita, serpentine and maghemita phases. The chemical colloidal evaluation concluded that the pH for isoelectricpoint of these samples depends on the mineralogical phase present in larger quantity.     The rheological study showed that viscosity changes with pH and solids concentration. The maximum viscosity is obtained at or close isoelectric point pH where the speed of cagulation is maximum. It was observed a variable suspension behavior, from plastic to pseudoplastic and newtonian flows depending on these factors.

Palabras clave : Rheology; latherites; viscosity; isoelectric point..