Kaolin

Kaolin, composed mainly of hydrated aluminum silicate (kaolinite), is a white clay, friable and refractory. Originally from China, it is the raw material used in the manufacture of porcelain.

The varieties of kaolin come either from "primary" deposits resulting from the weathering of granite rocks, or from "secondary" deposits resulting from primary deposits and redeposition of kaolin. In its natural state, kaolin is difficult to handle due to its low plasticity and high melting point. This is why other materials are usually added to kaolin in order to make it more plastic and to lower its melting point.

Kaolin powder is prepared industrially by drying, grinding and extracting iron residues by magnetization and firing at 1200 ° C in order to remove impurities of organic origin and to retain all its mineral richness.

Kaolin is not abrasive and has low thermal and electrical conductivity. It is easily dispersible in water.

The particles of kaolin are fine. Its density is 2260 kg / m³.

By its many virtues, kaolin is used in a variety of industrial environments such as:

• porcelain and ceramics
• paper where it serves as a filler and surface coating. It gives the paper a certain shine, smoothness and a better seal.
• decorative paint, where it sometimes replaces titanium dioxide with its natural gloss and opacifying effect. It can also be used in body painting.
• cosmetics, especially for make-up, masks and creams, because it has an absorbent, soothing and mattifying ability. White clay also helps cleanse the skin.
• pharmaceutical products where it is an acidity and pH regulator. It relieves digestive problems, making it an anti-diarrhea as well as a plasma coagulator.
• rubber to improve abrasion resistance and mechanical strength.
• the construction industry where it represents a component in the manufacture of geopolymer cements
   

In industrial processes, kaolin generally undergoes successive phases of drying, heat treatment, pulverization, grinding and then sieving to obtain an ultra-fine powder.

Palamatic Process designs crushers, lump breakers and sieves that suit the specificities of kaolin.

Our EC® knife lump breaker is particularly suitable for compact products with large clods and ensures high production rates. The UM® pin mill is ideal for performing grinding with a desired powder particle size. Equipped with a rotating disc and a fixed disc, it ensures the production of very fine powders.

Palamatic Process industrial sieves, such as the RS® centrifugal sieve, guarantee particle size separation of the products to keep only high-quality fines.

Packaging or emptying kaolin in bulk bags and sacks is also possible thanks to our wide range of dedicated stations.

Come and test your powders in our laboratory and our full-scale test center to validate the feasibility of your project and obtain perfect results for handling kaolin.

An installation at one of our customers sites on a product similar to kaolin has proven its effectiveness and allows the desired particle size to be achieved following a milling process.