How to Select the Right Organoclay Grade

Last reviewed: July 16, 2026 · CAMP-SHINNING technical content

If you already know your formulation details, use the CAMP-SHINNING Organoclay Product Finder or send them to our technical support team for a CP grade shortlist.

Organoclay Grade Selection at a Glance

What Is an Organoclay Grade?

Organoclay is an organically modified layered clay, usually based on montmorillonite, that can swell and form a thixotropic network in compatible liquids. Different organic modification levels, particle characteristics and processing designs create different organoclay types. These differences affect:

• compatibility with non-polar, medium-polar or high-polarity liquids;
• whether an external polar activator or pre-gel is needed;
• the shear required for dispersion;
• gel efficiency, yield value and thixotropic recovery;
• suspension and sag control;
• color, transparency and dispersion fineness;
• suitability for post-addition or viscosity correction.

The selection goal is not simply to produce the highest viscosity. It is to build the required structure at rest while preserving flow during spraying, pumping, printing, mixing or extrusion. See how organoclay forms a thixotropic network for the underlying mechanism.

Step 1 — Identify the True Continuous Phase

The first decision is whether the formulation is water-continuous or organic/oil-continuous.

Solvent- and oil-continuous systems

Use a solvent-based organoclay when the continuous phase is an organic solvent, mineral oil, synthetic oil or similar non-aqueous liquid. This category includes many solvent-borne coatings, printing inks, sealants, lubricating greases and oil-based drilling fluids.

Water-continuous systems

Use a purpose-designed water-based organoclay when water is the continuous phase. Do not assume that a solvent-based CP grade can be transferred directly into a waterborne formulation. CAMP-SHINNING water-dispersible options include CP-EW, CP-EWS and CP-WBS, but the correct candidate still depends on the application and required viscosity profile.

Emulsions and mixed phases

For emulsions, identify which phase is continuous at the stage where the organoclay must work. Also record co-solvents, surfactants and the order of addition. A formulation described as “water-based” may still contain an oil phase where a separate suspension mechanism is needed; an oil-continuous emulsion must not be selected as if it were a simple mineral-oil system.

Step 2 — Select by Application Before Selecting by Grade

Application determines what “good performance” means. Use the following table to choose the correct selection branch before comparing CP products.

A grade that works in a xylene-based industrial coating is not automatically the correct choice for a synthetic-base drilling fluid or an ester-rich cosmetic product. Application pages provide the detailed evaluation criteria; this guide provides the cross-application selection logic.

Step 3 — Match the Complete Solvent or Base-Oil Polarity

Organoclay solvent polarity is a compatibility window, not a single universal number. A practical first screen is:

Do not select from the major solvent alone. Resin solids, plasticizers, oils, surfactants, wetting agents, pigments and other additives can change how the clay surface is wetted and how the network develops. Two formulations that both contain xylene may require different grades if their resin, co-solvents and pigment packages differ.

For mixed solvents, list every liquid component and percentage. If the composition varies by production batch, test the candidate grades at both ends of the expected composition range.

Step 4 — Choose the Activation and Dispersion Route

The correct product must fit the plant process as well as the chemistry.

Conventional organoclay

Conventional grades are normally selected when the plant can provide controlled high shear, a defined addition sequence and, where required, a suitable polar activator or pre-gel process. They can be strong candidates when maximum gel development and a repeatable dedicated dispersion stage are priorities.

Easy-dispersing organoclay

Easy-dispersing grades simplify incorporation and may allow direct powder addition or later viscosity correction, depending on the individual TDS and formulation. CAMP-SHINNING CP-10 and CP-10A are easy-to-use grades for non-polar to medium-polar systems; CP-100 is an economical easy-dispersing option in a similar polarity range. These are candidate directions—not automatic substitutions for one another.

Grades designed to avoid an external polar activator

When an external activator is undesirable, screen products whose TDS confirms activator-free use in the relevant polarity range. Examples include CP-APA for moderate- to high-polarity systems and CP-MP10 across a broad solvent range. CP-MP can eliminate a polar activator in medium- and high-polarity solvents. The result must still be confirmed in the full formulation.

Fine and high-clarity grades

Transparent coatings, clear gels, high-quality inks and some cosmetic products need more than viscosity. Screen fine-dispersion candidates such as CP-MP, CP-MPS and CP-EDS when clarity, color and surface smoothness are important. CP-EZ10 is an easy-dispersing candidate for low- to medium-polarity systems where anti-sag, anti-settling and transparency are required; its TDS calls for a small amount of activator, so it should not be treated as universally activator-free.

Why mixing conditions belong in grade selection

If a grade is not fully wetted, swollen and exfoliated, the result may be low viscosity, poor suspension, haze or unstable rheology. Record the actual disperser, blade diameter, vessel geometry, batch volume, speed, time, temperature and addition order. “High shear” is not a reproducible test condition unless the equipment and process are defined.

CAMP-SHINNING CP Grade Shortlisting Matrix

This matrix is designed to create a laboratory shortlist. It is not a one-to-one substitution chart and does not replace the current product TDS.

The product names above are CAMP-SHINNING CP grades only. Always use the latest TDS for product-specific polarity, activation, addition and specification claims.

Step 5 — Define the Performance Target

Write a test target before requesting samples. “We need more viscosity” is not enough, because a formulation can gain high-shear viscosity and still have poor suspension at rest.

Depending on the application, define:

• low-shear viscosity or yield value for suspension;
• high-shear viscosity for pumping, spraying, printing or extrusion;
• thixotropic recovery after shear stops;
• anti-settling and redispersibility after storage;
• sag resistance at the intended wet-film thickness;
• flow and leveling;
• dispersion fineness, transparency, color or gloss;
• gel strength and weighting-material suspension in drilling fluids;
• grease consistency and mechanical stability;
• performance after heat aging, freeze/thaw or other relevant conditioning.

The best grade is the one that meets the complete performance window at a practical use level—not necessarily the grade that gives the highest single viscosity reading.

How to Validate Two or Three Candidate Grades

Use a controlled bench test so grade chemistry is the only major variable.

1. Prepare one control and at least two CP candidate samples using the same raw-material batch.
2. Keep organoclay loading constant for the first comparison.
3. Use the TDS-specified activation route for each grade; do not force every candidate into the same activation method.
4. Hold mixer, blade, vessel, batch size, speed, time, temperature and addition order constant where the TDS permits.
5. Record appearance and dispersion fineness immediately after preparation.
6. Measure the application-relevant rheology after a defined conditioning period.
7. Test anti-settling, sag, pumping, extrusion, print transfer, gel strength or consistency as appropriate.
8. Repeat the leading candidates at more than one loading level.
9. Confirm performance after the required storage or heat-aging condition.
10. Select the grade/process combination that gives repeatable performance and an acceptable operating window.

For a supplier comparison or replacement project, compare all candidates in your own base formulation rather than assuming equivalent product names will perform at the same addition level.

Common Organoclay Selection Mistakes

Choosing from the application name alone

“Organoclay for paint” is too broad. A mineral-spirit alkyd primer, an ester-rich coating and a clear wood finish have different polarity, activation and clarity requirements.

Ignoring the resin and co-additives

Resins, wetting agents, surfactants and pigments can compete for the clay surface or alter wetting. Evaluate the complete formulation, not an isolated solvent gel only.

Treating mixed solvents as one solvent

Record the full blend and test normal production variation. A small high-polarity component can change activation behavior.

Comparing grades under unequal dispersion conditions

A test is not meaningful if one candidate receives more shear, a different activator level or a different addition sequence without documentation.

Selecting only by peak viscosity

Excessive structure can reduce leveling, sprayability, pumpability or ink transfer. Evaluate the whole rheological profile.

Using a solvent-based grade in a water-continuous system

Use the dedicated water-based product family unless laboratory work confirms another route.

Scaling up without checking shear per unit volume

The same mixer speed does not guarantee the same dispersion energy in a larger vessel. Reconfirm the process during pilot and production scale-up.

Information Needed for a CP Grade Recommendation

Send the following information through the contact form so the recommendation can be based on your formulation rather than a generic product list:

1. Application and end-product type.
2. Complete solvent, water or base-oil composition with approximate percentages.
3. Resin/binder type and solids content.
4. Main pigments, fillers, surfactants and rheology co-additives.
5. Current organoclay grade or product type, if any, and the reason for changing.
6. Target viscosity, yield value, thixotropy, gel strength, anti-settling, anti-sag, clarity or other acceptance criteria.
7. Mixer type, blade, speed, time, temperature, batch size and addition sequence.
8. Whether a polar activator is permitted.
9. Current loading level and observed problem.
10. Required TDS, SDS, COA, sample quantity, packaging and destination country.

With these details, CAMP-SHINNING can recommend a short list, provide the relevant documents and arrange samples for testing. A final grade recommendation should always be confirmed by the customer’s formulation test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get a CP Grade Shortlist for Your Formulation

Use the Product Finder for an initial selection, or send your formulation details to CAMP-SHINNING. We can narrow the CP options according to your continuous phase, solvent or base oil, application, processing route and target performance, then provide the relevant TDS/SDS and samples for validation.