{"id":136375,"date":"2026-07-21T08:50:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T06:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/a-cosa-serve-la-bentonite-in-edilizia\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T09:04:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T07:04:51","slug":"what-is-bentonite-used-for-in-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/what-is-bentonite-used-for-in-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Bentonite Used for in Construction?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bentonite is a natural clay used in many construction applications because of its ability to absorb water, expand in volume and form suspensions with high viscosity and low permeability.<\/p>\n

Its performance, however, does not depend only on the quality of the material. Before it is hydrated and transformed into a slurry, mixture or waterproof barrier, bentonite must be stored under suitable conditions. Uncontrolled exposure to moisture can promote lump formation, alter powder flowability and make the subsequent extraction, dosing and mixing stages less consistent.For this reason, when bentonite is used in significant quantities, correct storage becomes a central part of the process. A silo does not simply provide a reserve of material: it must protect the product, keep it continuously available and feed downstream equipment in a controlled manner.<\/p>\n

In the construction sector, bentonite is mainly used for waterproofing, deep foundations, diaphragm walls, drilling, geotechnical works and underground construction. In many of these applications, it is delivered as a bulk material, in powder or granular form, and stored in silos before the suspension is prepared.<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

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What is bentonite?<\/h2>\n

Bentonite is a clay-rich rock generally formed through the alteration of volcanic materials. It mainly consists of minerals belonging to the smectite group, including montmorillonite.<\/p>\n

When it comes into contact with water, its structure hydrates and, in some types, expands considerably in volume. This property makes it possible to obtain viscous suspensions, gels and mixtures with very low permeability.<\/p>\n

The main types are:<\/p>\n