POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE / CAUSTIC POTASH (KOH)

POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE is used in place of CAUSTIC SODA
(NaOH) to control the alkalinity of water-base drilling fluids and potassium-base drilling fluids or where potassium ions are preferred as a shale inhibitor over the sodium ion. POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE will solubilize the common lignite products and activate the lignosulfonate thinners.

POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE should be added as needed to control the
pH and alkalinity. The product should be added where possible as a
water solution from a chemical barrel. POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE is a
corrosive material and should be used with extreme caution. POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE should not be mixed through the mud hopper. One sack should be added very slowly with careful agitation to 50 gallons of water in the chemical barrel. The solution can then be added to the drilling fluid system.
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE provides a significant source of potassium
ions in high pH drilling fluids. Inhibition is derive by the replacement of cations in clays. Potassium is a monovalent ion of a nearly ideal size to fit the cationic space between clay platelets.Once exchanged for the native sodium or calcium, potassium prevents additional water from being absored and actually decreases the size of the particle by forcing water out of the interstitial area.
In high pH drilling fluids the dispersants require the addition of
hydroxyl ions (OH-) to solubilize the organic materials. POTASSIUM
HYDROXIDE is a good source of the OH– in the drilling fluids.