Talc is a unique mineral. Being milled it is
widely used in many industries as a filler/extender and in other industrial applications
due to its natural physical and chemical properties and relatively low price.
Chemically talc is Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide. In pure form it
has formula Mg3Si4O16(OH)2.
Talc is used in industrial applications because of its lamelar
platy nature, softness, whiteness, hydrophobic features, atmosphere and acid resistance,
high thermal strength, chemical inertness, high dielectric strength, high melting point
and absorption features. Particle size distribution is a critical parameter in most talc
applications.
Total world consumption of talc products currently is about 6 mln
ton per annum.
Plastic industry consumes high quality ultra fine talc in
automotive (bumpers, dashboards, interior trims etc.) and aesthetic (computer and TV
bodies, garden furniture etc.) polypropylene, polyamides, cable PVCs and other plastic
compounds. Due to its chemical inertness, superior electrical and thermal resistance and
other properties talc imparts stiffness, hardness, tensile strength of plastic products,
improves quality of their surfaces, gives them electrical, chemical and thermal
resistance.
In paint industry talc is used in production of decorative
paints, industrial coatings, pigment pastes, primers, enamels, adhesives, putties and
other products of the industry. Due to natural properties and fine grinding of talc it
improves fluidity and coverage properties of paint, imparts corrosion, acid, thermal, air
resistance to them, increase smoothness and stability of paint products.
In paper industry talc is used in three stages of paper making
– as a filler, to control pitch and stickies and in paper coating. Talc gives
smoothness, yellow index, porosity, opacity to paper, improves its yellow index and
reduces the deterioration of the machinery.
In ceramics is used mostly as a cheap filler in ceramic tiles,
sanitaryware, dinnerware, porcelain and electrical ceramics.
In cosmetics talc is used as a body talc and as a filler in some
cosmetic products – toothpaste, soap, detergents etc. Talc imparts stability,
texture, water resistance and skin adhesion to cosmetics. In body talc it acts as a
perfume carrier due to its chemical inertness lamellar structure.
In pharmaceuticals talc is used as a filler in tablets, ointments
and dustings. Talc used in this industry must be highly pure, bacteria free, must contain
no iron oxide, dolomite, carbon and other impurities.
Talc is used in production of many other products –
in rubber and cable industries, in roofing, asphalt, in agricultural products, in food
industry as a confectioneries filler and in candies and chewing gum coating, in sculpture,
sealant and isolator production as a building material, in waste water treatment, in
animal feed, in leather treatment, in shoe polish, welding rods, in cereal polishing, in
pencils, glass fibre, synthetic diamonds and other products.
SMT-3U talc is recommended in all
the above industries, especially in those applications where particle size of talc is a
major concern. |