Vermiculite

Vermiculite is one of the safest, most unique minerals in the entire world. A hydrated Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, it is lightweight, inorganic (incombustible), compressible, highly absorbent, non-reactive (yet compatible in many chemical compositions as a functional filler), may have a high cation exchange capacity (surface chemistry may be modified). A raw ore makes some grain size for grinding and screening. It expands by heating rapidly at the burning kiln. It is the very light-weight material with the color of gold/silver which did the form of accordion.

Burning of vermiculite

Flakes of raw vermiculite concentrate are micaceous in appearance and contain interlayer water in their structure. When the flakes are heated rapidly at a temperature above 870° C, the water flashes into steam, and the flakes expand into accordionlike particles. This process is called exfoliation, or expansion, and the resulting lightweight material is chemically inert, fire resistant, and odorless.

Applications of vermiculite

Vermiculite is used in thousands of applications from agricultural horticulture, industrial construction, light weight concrete, fire protection construction materials, insulation blocks, potting soils, intumescent applications, as a UN approved packaging material for the safe shipment of hazardous liquids, texturizers in paints and coatings,brake pads, fertilizer, Seed encapsulant and most recently as nanocomposites for films, coatings and barrier applications.