VERMICULITE INFORMATION
We offer both expanded and unexpanded Vermiculite. The typical uses include: soil amendments, mortar and insulating cements, moldable insulation, carrier for agricultural formulations, and many other industrial uses.
VERMICULITE USES
This unique mineral is often used as a fire retardant and it is also widely used in soil applications.
Grades of VERMICULITE
VERMICULITE FIRE RETARDANT INFORMATION
This is a product produced by the careful separation and purification of natural Vermiculite. The particles are further processed to separate them into a narrow particle size range. The vermiculite is used in fire rated composites, building materials, and as anintumescent fire retardant in polymers.
| CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS: | |
|---|---|
| As delivered, before exposure to high temperature Crystalline and Bound Water Analysis after calcination | 7-13% |
| SiO2 | 44% |
| Al2O3 | 19% |
| Fe2O3 | 9% |
| MgO | 27% |
| PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: | |
|---|---|
| Combustion Temp | Will not burn |
| pH | 6. to 8. |
| Cation Exchange Capacity | 50-100 M.eq/100g (typically) |
| Color | Brown or Dark Gold |
| Particle Shape | Sheet Platelets |
| Hardness, Mohs | 1 to 2, very soft |
| Density | 50 to 70 lbs/ft3 |
| Aspect Ratio | 20 to 40 :1 |
| Expansion Ratio | 10 :1 |
| Expansion Temperature | 1200 to 1800 degrees F |
| Melting Temperature | Over 2,200 degrees F |
| Particle Size Distribution (typical): | |
|---|---|
| +30 US mesh | 0 to 1.5% |
| 30/50 | 0 to 20 |
| 50/100 | 30 to 76 |
| -100 | 24 to 7 |
VERMICULITE EXFOLIATED INFORMATION
This product is mined, concentrated, sized, and then expanded at high temperature to produce a low density, high surface area Vermiculite. The typical uses include: soil amendments, mortar and insulating cements, moldable insulation, carrier for agricultural formulations, and many other industrial use
| CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTIC: | |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 38% |
| Al2O3 | 13% |
| Fe2O3 | 12% |
| MgO | 15% |
| CaO | 2.3% |
| K2O | 4.8% |
| LOI, after expansion | 2.0% |
| PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: | |
|---|---|
| Combustion Temp | Will not burn |
| pH | 7.0-7.1 (in water) |
| Cation Exchange Capacity | 50-100 M.eq/100g (typically) |
| Moisture | <2.5% (total of free and intrinsic moistur |
| Color | Tan or off white |
| Particle Shape | Accordion-like |
| Hardness | 1.5-2.0 mohs |
| Density | 5.0-10.0 lbs/ft3 |
| Fusion Temperature | Over 2,200 degrees |
| Particle Size Distribution (as cumulative % by weight, typical: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh | Grade3 | Grade4 | Grade5 |
| 8 | 0-10 | ||
| 20 | 0-30 | ||
| 30 | 70-100 | 40-70 | |
| 40 | 10-40 | ||
| 50 | 65-95 | 30-70 | |
| 100 | 90-100 | 70-100 | |
VERMICULITE #7 EXPANDED INFORMATION
This product is mined, concentrated, sized, and then expanded at high temperature to produce a low density, high surface area vermiculite. This process carefully separates the vermiculite sheets to form a dry delaminated product. Typical uses include polymers, where it improves the HDT without the loss of impact strength or flex modulus, friction products, seed protection, and many other industrial uses.
| CHEMICAL ANALYSIS | Specification |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 40.0% |
| Al2O3 | 13.8% |
| Fe2O3 | 11.2% |
| MgO | 25.2% |
| CaO | 1.3% |
| K2O | 4.2% |
| LOI | 1.4% |
| PHYSICAL ANALYSIS | Specification |
|---|---|
| Combustion Temperature | Will not burn |
| pH | 7.0 (in water) |
| Cation Exchange Capacity | 50–150 meq/100 g (typically) |
| Moisture | <2.5% (total of free and intrinsic moisture) |
| Color | Tan |
| Particle Shape | Accordion-like |
| Hardness | 1–2 Mohs |
| Density | 6.0–10.0 lb/ft3 |
| Fusion Temperature | Over 2,200 °F |
TYPICAL PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION (% retained by weight)
| Mesh | µm | % Retained |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 420 | 0–4 |
| 70 | 210 | 4–30 |
| 100 | 150 | 6–30 |
| 200 | 75 | 25–55 |
| Pan | — | 10–40 |
VERMICULITE #5 UNEXFOLIATED INFORMATION
Number 5 Vermiculite concentrate is inorganic, chemically inert, incombustible and expands when rapidly heated. It is primarily used in its unexfoliated form as a component in the manufacture of fire-rated wallboard.
| TYPICAL PHYSICAL ANALYSIS | Specification |
|---|---|
| pH (in water) | 6.0–8.0 |
| Cation Exchange Capacity | 50–100 meq/100 g (typically) |
| Free Moisture | 1.5–3% |
| Total Moisture | 7–13% |
| Color | Medium brown to black |
| Particle Shape | Sheet platelet |
| Aspect Ratio | 20:1–40:1 |
| Hardness | 1–2 Mohs |
| Bulk Density | 50–70 lb/ft3 |
| Specific Gravity | 2.5–2.8 |
| Expansion Ratio | 10 times (volume) |
| Expansion Temperature | 1,200–1,800 °F |
| Fusion Temperature | Over 2,200 °F |
TYPICAL PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION (% retained by weight)
| Mesh | mm | % Retained | Cumulative % Retained | Cumulative Specification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 0.84 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | 0.60 | 0 | 0 | 0–1 |
| 50 | 0.30 | 16 | 12 | 0–20 |
| 100 | 0.15 | 53 | 60 | 30–76 |
| Pan | — | 31 | — | — |
