PERLITE
Perlite is a naturally occurring glassy material that is found in volcanic eruptions. It contains lots of water and is made by hydration of substance called obsidian. It has a unique property of expanding when it is heated. This happens because the water inside Perlite vaporizes upon heating and it escapes, leading to an expansion of the material.
It is used in various industries such as manufacture of refractory bricks and insulation of pipes used in construction industry. Galaxy Enterprise is one of the largest manufacturers of Perlite ore in India and it supplies them to its clients in different industries.
KARNATAKA SILICATES has a vast reserve of crude Perlite ore that is crushed and dried in a rotary drier. It is then ground and screened before it is sent to expansion plants. It is preheated to 800 degrees so as to reduce fines. It is then placed inside furnace where at a temperature of 1400-1800 degrees, the water trapped inside escapes after becoming steam.
Packaging of Perlite ore foundries is done in 50kg bags. The chemical composition of Perlite ore supplied by KARNATAKA SILICATES is as follows.
- SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide-70-75%)
- Al2O3 (Aluminum Oxide-12-15%)
- Na2O (Sodium Oxide-3-4%)
- K2O (Potassium Oxide-3-5%)
- Fe2O3 (Iron Oxide- 0.5-2%)
- MgO (magnesium Oxide-0.2-0.7%)
- CaO (Calcium Oxide-0.5-1.5%)
Applications of Perlite Ore
1.CONSTRUCTION (FIRE AND THERMAL INSULATION)
- Lightweight, Concrete Insulation
- Funding
- Plasters
- Fillers
- Joint Compounds
- Roofing materials
- Plaster boards
- Ceiling tiles
- Pipe insulation
2.CHEMISTRY AND PAINT
- Matting Additive
- Filling Additive
- Geopolimer
- Adsorbent and Absorbent
3.HORTICULTURE & AGRICULTURE
- Gardening
- Plant rooting
- Seed composts
- Growing Medium
- Soil conditioner
- Hydrophonics
- Flower sport
- Packing for shipping nursery stock
- Greenroofs
4.FILTRATION/FILTER AID
- Beer
- Wine
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
- Citric acid
- Sugar
- Oil
- Pharmaceuticals
- Fruit juices
- Glucose
- Chemicals
- Swimming pool water
5.CRYOGENICS
- Super cooled gases in the containers for transport & in stationary plants
- Vessels and storage tanks
- Air Separation units
- Cold Boxes
- Refrigeration plants
6.TEXTILE
7.PLASTICS &POLYMER
- Sheet Moulding Compound
- Anti-blocking agent
- PVC profiles
- Rubber
- Composite
8.COSMETICS
- Make up and facial care products
- Hair care products
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Body care products
9.FOUNDRY
- Sand Blasting
- Slag coagulant
- Special casting sand and mixtures
- Silica source
- Refactory bricks
10.OTHER USES
- Phase Changing Materials
- Sports flooring (tartan track)
- Water reserves
- Polishing material
- Dental practice gloss cakes
- Oil well cementing
- Poultry litter
- Animal feed
- As an additive in the ceramic and glass industries
- Explosives
- Aerosols
- Aquarium filters
