1. n. [Drilling Fluids]

A chemical that causes a dispersed colloidal system (such as clay) to coagulate and form flocs. Most flocculants are either multivalent cations such as calcium, magnesium and aluminum, or long-chain polymers. High pH, high salinity and high temperature can also cause clay flocculation.

Antonyms: deflocculant

See: acrylamide polymer,  acrylamide acrylate polymer,  acrylate polymer,  alum,  calcium mud,  cation,  clay-water interaction,  floc,  PHPA mud,  polymer