CETCO Drilling Products Research and Development Capabilities

Bentonite clays are used in the creation of thousands of products. AMCOL is engaged in many of these markets, from cat litter to car parts, wine clarification to waste water treatment. AMCOL's involvement in a variety of markets provides an excellent resource base, creating an environment where cross functional innovation flourishes. AMCOL currently holds bentonite claims worldwide with many of our products utilizing U.S. western bentonite, one of the best deposits of sodium bentonite in the world. AMCOL's employees are its most valuable research asset. With a wide variety of backgrounds, experience and expertise are close at hand.

AMCOL's technical center houses a myriad of comprehensive testing equipment. Nearly every aspect of bentonite characterization can be analyzed by our scientists using:

• ICP to measure amounts of cations, including metals, in water
• Atomic Absorption to measure cationic exchange in bentonite samples
• Permeameters to measure hydraulic conductivity of our Geosynthetic clay liners
• X-ray diffraction and fluorescence to characterize the minerals and elements found in bentonites
• Thermal gravimetric analyzer and DSC to analyze polymers and organic portions of clay formulas
• Tensile testing equipment
• Rheologic property measuring equipment
  

CETCO's Construction Drilling Products is committed to producing the best products with a continuous evaluation and improvement program. Several new products have also been introduced recently. One such product is the Stone Stop; a granular sealant composed of polymer-free, dried minerals in various mesh sizes. This simple to use additive is poured into the top of the excavation that is full of Shore Pac slurry. Stone Stop is designed to fall through the slurry to the zone of slurry loss, sealing and stopping loss. Just introduced, Shore Pac Insta-Clear Dry. This product added to the excavation prior to cleanout clears the slurry so rapidly silt and sand sediment build-up is eliminated after placing the rebar cage. Work in progress includes a new and improved Stabilizer additive, this liquid additive will produce results that offer the drilling contractor an additive they can keep on-site knowing with confidence that the Stabilizer will work to stop unexpected encounters with unstable soil conditions. The CETCO R&D group is currently investigating a new drilling fluid, which will give added suspension properties in the toughest of bore holes, i.e. gravelly and unconsolidated areas. CETCO continues to work with customers to produce the best product recommendation for their application. Recently, CETCO provided the best fluid recommendation for a foundation drilling project in which sea water would be used as the mix water and slaking clay stone would be drilled through in the installation of the caissons.

CETCO's Construction Drilling Products can provide the products and expertise for nearly all foundation drilling applications and slurry wall applications. Our R&D group continually improves existing products and shapes the future of drilling with new innovative products.