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Kaolin: Where does the kaolin comes from?
On the surface, it looks unremarkable. A soft white clay mined and processed can hide how versatile and important it is to a diverse list of industries.
First discovered in China, kaolin has been used in the making of porcelain and fine china for centuries. Today, however, kaolin is an important and cost-effective pigment in many paper and paperboard, paints and coatings, plastics, wire and cable and in concrete among many others industries.
What is Kaolin?
Kaolin is derived from the mineral Kaolinite which comes frommother earth’s crust. It is an aluminum silicate represented as Al2O3•2SiO2•2H2O. Kaolin was first found in China. The name comes from two Chinese characters that mean “high hill” (Kao-Ling).
- Kaolin was formed in the Earth’s crust by hydrothermal weathering of feldspar 80 to 100 million years ago.
- Our principals in china carefully manage the mines to optimally utilize crude Kaolin and manufacture the highest quality finished products.
- The chemical make up of kaolin can be seen in the image below.
Uses
Kaolin has laminar structure, white clay that is chemically inert, nonabrasive and possesses a number of characteristics that make it desirable for use in a range of industries, including paper and paperboard, paints and coatings, plastics, wire and cable and in concrete among many others.
Printing and Writing Paper
Kaolin helps improve paper performance by imparting gloss, enhancing opacity, and improving printability
Packaging and Board
Our principals offer a complete line of calcined and hydrous kaolin clays to meet the most stringent needs of the coated board industry.
Specialty Paper
Kaolins enhance specialty paper products including thermal paper, carbonless paper, label grades and ink jet paper.
Paint and Coatings
Consistency, performance and costs are the driving forces behind which kaolin's contributions to coatings.
Wire and Cable
Using calcined and surface treated kaolin, our supplier has helped improve electrical and physical performance – even at high stress with elevated moisture and temperature levels.
Rubber and Plastics
The bonds between the kaolin and the polymers provide enhanced mechanical strength, improved impact and flex strength, and a high degree of hydrophobicity.
Construction
We can supply highly reactive metakaolin product that exhibits pozzolanic properties, which leads to the increased strength in concrete and cement-based products.
