Control Polymer Slurry: Viscosity, Density, Contamination

Definition: Control polymer slurry for deep foundation work with a field-ready checklist guiding viscosity, density, contamination, and recyclability assessments for engineers, inspectors, and foremen.

Verify viscosity and density using calibrated field instruments and logs.
Detect contamination via turbidity, pH, hydrocarbons, and suspended solids tests.
Prove recyclability using settling, shear-recovery, and reactivation trials.
Interactive, commentable, export, QR code for secure jobsite records.

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Checklist

Control polymer slurry is critical to maintaining excavation stability and concrete quality in bored piles, CFA shafts, and diaphragm walls. This checklist focuses on polymer support fluid, also called polymer drilling slurry or polymer-based drilling fluid, and establishes practical field controls for viscosity, density, contamination, and recyclability. It excludes bentonite controls, sand content checks, and gel-strength procedures. Using calibrated instruments and repeatable methods, crews can quickly detect fines loading, cement ingress, hydrocarbons, or saline groundwater effects before they jeopardize stability or cover fresh concrete. The result is fewer stoppages, consistent cut-off levels, and lower waste-handling costs through verified reuse. Each step specifies tools, acceptance cues per approved project specifications and authority requirements, and the evidence to capture for traceability. Use this interactive checklist to tick tasks, add comments, attach photos, and export PDF/Excel with a QR-secured audit trail.

Establish a repeatable field regime for polymer slurry control, focusing on viscosity, density, pH, temperature, turbidity, and suspended solids. Clear acceptance cues and evidence capture reduce uncertainty, delays, and rework while aligning with approved project specifications and authority requirements.
Prevent defects by detecting contamination early: monitor groundwater fines, concrete/cement ingress, hydrocarbons, and salts. Practical thresholds, methods, and escalation steps help crews isolate tanks, adjust dosing, or segregate waste before it affects excavation stability or fresh concrete quality.
Extend slurry life responsibly through recyclability checks, including settling observations, shear-recovery assessments, and controlled reactivation trials. Document dosage, mixing energy, and results so reuse decisions are transparent, defensible, and environmentally sound under the project’s environmental management plan.
Interactive online checklist with tick, comment, and export features secured by QR code. Field teams collect photos, instrument calibrations, and signatures, then export to PDF/Excel for daily reports, quality records, and rapid stakeholder reviews without duplicating data entry.

Pre-Use Verification

1. Confirm polymer product, grade, and batch against approved submittals; capture SDS and certificate; verify expiry date; photograph labels; acceptance: matches submittal; evidence: photos and batch numbers logged.
2. Inspect storage tanks, mixers, and hoses are clean, dry, and free of cement, soil, or hydrocarbons; acceptance: no residue or sheen; evidence: interior photos and supervisor initials.
3. Calibrate Marsh funnel, mud balance, pH meter, thermometer, and turbidimeter; record serial numbers and calibration dates; acceptance: in-date calibration; evidence: calibration certificates uploaded.

Viscosity Control

4. Measure Marsh funnel viscosity at 20 ± 2 °C using 946 mL discharge; record seconds and temperature; acceptance: within specified range per approved project specifications; evidence: photo of reading and log entry.
5. Adjust polymer concentration per manufacturer instructions to reach target viscosity; document product, dose (mL/L), and mixing time; acceptance: next test within target; evidence: dosing record and mixer runtime.
6. Recheck viscosity after shear (mix 1 min) and 5 min rest for recovery; acceptance: recovery behavior within specified limits; evidence: before/after times and operator initials.

Density and Composition

7. Measure density with calibrated mud balance; record kg/m³ and temperature; acceptance: within project range; evidence: mud balance photo and recorded value.
8. Measure pH using a calibrated meter; rinse with deionized water; record pH and temperature; acceptance: within manufacturer-recommended range; evidence: instrument screenshot or photo.
9. Measure slurry temperature; acceptance: within operational range stated in submittals; evidence: thermometer photo and value logged to 0.1 °C.
10. Determine suspended solids via field filtration/gravimetric kit; dry and weigh filter; record mg/L; acceptance: below project limit; evidence: filter photo and mass calculation.

Contamination Monitoring

11. Test turbidity with turbidimeter; record NTU; sample from mid-depth with clean bottle; acceptance: below specified NTU limit; evidence: instrument photo and time-stamped reading.
12. Check for hydrocarbons: visual sheen test on clean surface tray; if available, use oil/grease field kit (mg/L); acceptance: no sheen or within limit; evidence: tray photo and kit result.
13. Screen incoming groundwater interaction: test chlorides/sulfates with strips (mg/L); acceptance: within specified limits; evidence: strip photo beside color chart and logged value.
14. Identify cement/concrete ingress: look for rapid pH rise, density increase, or flocculation near tremie; acceptance: within control limits; action: isolate tank if exceeded; evidence: readings and incident note.

Recyclability Assessment

15. Run 30-minute settling test in transparent beaker; photograph start and finish; acceptance: clarity and viscosity retain within targets; evidence: before/after photos and notes.
16. Perform shear-recovery check using low–high–low mixing or viscometer; acceptance: recovery response per project criteria; evidence: recorded curve/observations and operator signature.
17. Trial reactivation: dose measured polymer concentrate; mix for specified time; retest viscosity/density; acceptance: meets targets without exceeding max concentration; evidence: dose log and post-dose results.

Operations Control

18. Maintain circulation to avoid air entrainment; verify pump flow rate (L/min) matches plan; acceptance: within operational band; evidence: flowmeter reading and hourly log.
19. Screen slurry through 500–1000 µm shaker screens compatible with polymer fluids; record retained mass; acceptance: removal of coarse fines without degrading polymer; evidence: screen photos and retained mass.
20. Segregate tanks for fresh, in-use, and recovery slurry; label clearly; document transfers (L) and locations; acceptance: no cross-contamination; evidence: tank labels and volume log.

Documentation and Handling

21. Record all readings in the interactive checklist; attach photos, calibration certificates, and batch labels; acceptance: complete data set per test point; evidence: digital record with reviewer initials.
22. Reconcile daily slurry mass balance: produced, reused, topped-up, and disposed (L); acceptance: within acceptable variance per approved project specifications; evidence: summary table and supervisor confirmation.
23. Dispose of non-recyclable slurry via licensed waste contractor per environmental plan; acceptance: manifests and volumes documented; evidence: disposal tickets and haulage receipts uploaded.
24. Issue hold point if any parameter is out of tolerance; notify stakeholders; acceptance: corrective action approved before reuse; evidence: hold log, approval note, and retest results.

Field Measurements That Keep Polymer Slurry Within Control

A robust field routine focuses on the few parameters that drive performance: viscosity, density, pH, temperature, turbidity, and suspended solids. Viscosity sets carrying capacity and filterability; measure with a calibrated Marsh funnel at controlled temperature and observe recovery after shear. Density in kg/m³ highlights fines loading or concrete ingress; cross-check with pH and turbidity to distinguish causes. Turbidity and gravimetric suspended solids track clarity and recyclability. Use clean bottles and mid-depth sampling to avoid surface films or settled sediments. Temperature affects viscosity and instrument readings; always log it alongside each test. Acceptability thresholds must align with the polymer manufacturer’s guidance and per approved project specifications and authority requirements. On real sites, crews photograph instrument displays, note serial numbers, and add initials to lock traceability. When two parameters drift together—such as density and turbidity—investigate upstream screens, excavation technique, or water source before resuming excavation or tremie operations.

Record temperature with every viscosity and density test.
Calibrate instruments and capture certificates before operations.
Sample from mid-depth using clean bottles and procedures.
Verify acceptance against approved project specifications.
Attach photos of readings for auditability.

Detecting and Managing Contamination Before It Spreads

Common contamination sources include groundwater fines, cement or grout ingress near tremie starts, hydrocarbon residues from equipment, and dissolved salts. Visual checks alone are insufficient; quantify turbidity (NTU), suspended solids (mg/L), and pH trends. A sudden density jump with pH rise suggests cement contamination; isolate the affected tank, stop recirculation to clean tanks, and retest before reuse. Hydrocarbon sheen requires removing the source, skimming, and verifying with a field kit. For saline intrusion, assess chloride/sulfate levels and consult the polymer supplier on compatibility. Maintain separate tanks for fresh, in-use, and recovery slurry to prevent cross-contamination. Screens sized for polymer fluids remove coarse fines without stripping polymer chains. Document all anomalies with time-stamped photos and immediate notifications so supervisors can authorize corrective actions per approved project specifications and authority requirements.

Isolate contaminated tanks immediately and retest.
Use NTU and mg/L, not visual estimates alone.
Adjust screens to match polymer, not bentonite.
Record source, action, and retest outcomes.
Notify stakeholders before reuse decisions.

Proving Recyclability with Simple, Defensible Field Tests

Recyclability depends on whether the slurry can regain target properties without excessive dosing. Start with a 30-minute settling observation for clarity and fines behavior, then perform shear-recovery checks to confirm thixotropic response. If viscosity under-recovers, trial a small, recorded dose of compatible polymer concentrate and remeasure. Compare the final viscosity, density, turbidity, and suspended solids against acceptance criteria. Avoid aggressive desanders meant for clay systems; polymer fluids respond better to gentle screening and controlled dilution. When repeated dosing cannot restore targets, or when contamination indicators remain high, designate the batch for disposal through licensed contractors under the project’s environmental plan. Recording doses, mixing energy, and results allows transparent, defensible decisions and supports cost forecasting for future shifts.

Use settling, shear, and reactivation trials together.
Dose incrementally; record mL/L and mix time.
Prefer screening and dilution over heavy desanding.
Dispose when restoration fails project criteria.
Keep a recyclability log for each tank.

How to Use This Polymer Slurry Control Checklist

Preparation: assemble calibrated Marsh funnel, mud balance, pH meter, thermometer, turbidimeter, filtration kit, clean sample bottles, PPE, and labeled sample containers. Verify power/water availability, safe access, spill control, and lighting.
Set up: designate fresh, in-use, and recovery tanks; install compatible screens; mark sampling points; brief the crew on acceptance criteria per approved project specifications and authority requirements.
Using the Interactive Checklist: start interactive mode, select test point, tick each step, attach photos of readings, add comments for anomalies, and tag responsible personnel.
Export and Share: generate a commentable report and export as PDF/Excel; share via QR-secured link for supervisors, inspectors, and the materials engineer.
Sign-Off and Archive: collect digital signatures from the tester and reviewer; confirm corrective actions closed; archive with batch numbers, calibration records, and manifests.

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Chen Zhang BIMCoderChen

Jan 05, 2026

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FAQ

Question: Which instruments should I use to measure polymer slurry viscosity and density?

Use a calibrated Marsh funnel for quick viscosity checks and a calibrated mud balance to measure density in kg/m³. Complement with a pH meter, thermometer, turbidimeter, and a simple filtration/gravimetric kit for suspended solids. For advanced diagnostics, a rotational viscometer can profile shear behavior when required by project specifications.

Question: How often should polymer slurry be tested during operations?

Test at initial mixing, before introducing slurry to the excavation, at the start of each shift, after significant events (e.g., heavy fines inflow, tremie start), and before any reuse. Increase frequency when parameters drift or when site conditions change. Always follow the frequency and acceptance criteria specified in the approved project documents.

Question: How do I decide if polymer slurry is still recyclable?

Run settling and shear-recovery checks, then attempt a small, documented reactivation dose. If viscosity, density, turbidity, and suspended solids return to targets without exceeding maximum concentration, the slurry is recyclable. If targets cannot be restored or contamination persists, designate for disposal per the environmental plan and authority requirements.

Question: Can I apply bentonite control methods with polymer slurry?

No. This checklist intentionally excludes bentonite controls. Polymer fluids behave differently and typically rely on viscosity, density, pH, turbidity, and suspended solids monitoring rather than sand content or gel-strength tests. Use polymer-compatible screens, dosing strategies, and acceptance criteria defined in the approved project specifications.

Question: What records should I keep for quality and traceability?

Capture batch and lot numbers, SDS and certificates, instrument serials and calibrations, all readings with temperature, dosing amounts and mixing times, tank transfers, photos of instrument displays, signatures, and disposal manifests. Export the complete, commentable record to PDF/Excel and secure it with a QR-linked archive.