Vermiculite
What is Vermiculite:
Vermiculite is a popular soil additive for houseplants and garden plants that improves soil texture and helps to grow healthy plants. The main benefits of adding vermiculite to soil are better water absorption, retention, and drainage of the soil, thereby regulating the amount of water available to plants.
Vermiculite is a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral which undergoes significant expansion when heated. Exfoliation occurs when the mineral is heated sufficiently. Good grade vermiculite expands 8 to 12 times its size and best grades expand up to 20 times. This heating process is called “exfoliation” and the resultant product is called “Exfoliated Vermiculite”.
Vermiculite forms by the weathering or hydrothermal alteration of biotite or phlogopite.
Medium of Vermiculite:
1) Raw / Crude Ore (Directly from Mines).
2) Processed Vermiculite (Processed through Machinery & Segregated).
3) Exfoliated Vermiculite (Heated through Furnace around 120-200 deg temp).
| S.No | Category | Size | Presence in Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crude Ore – Vermiculite | Above 7 mm | Dark brownish - yellow, greenish or almost black |
| 2 | Processed – Vermiculite | 4 to 7 mm | Dark brownish - yellow, greenish or almost black |
| 3 | Processed – Vermiculite | 2 to 4 mm | Dark brownish - yellow, greenish or almost black |
| 4 | Processed – Vermiculite | 1 to 2 mm | Dark brownish - yellow, greenish or almost black |
| 5 | Processed – Vermiculite | 0.5 mm | Dark brownish - yellow, greenish or almost black |
| 6 | Exfoliated - Vermiculite subjected to 120 - 200 deg temp | - | Lustrous gold or Golden brown with a Silver or Bronze tint (Shimmers). |
| S.No | Where its use | % of Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture / Horticulture | 55% |
| 2 | Insulation | 23% |
| 3 | Construction & Concrete & wall | 16% |
| 4 | Others | 6% |
1) Agriculture / Horticulture:
- Seed germination, Soilless growing medium, Soil conditioner
- Work as a Water Absorbing medium to absorb the water and release it when plant need.
- Used as Soil addictive and reduce the Soil erosion
- Excellent Root Growth and nutrient retention.
2) Insulation:
- Act as a Thermal insulator to reduce Heat, friction and Sound.
- Used as fire Proofing medium.
- Industrial Painting.
3) Construction & Concrete & wall:
- Use in Low weight Concrete manufacturing to maintain the Room temperature below Atmospheric Temp.
- Act as a Sound proofing medium to reduce abnormal sound and Echo.
- Act as Fire Resistant in wall.
4) Others:
- Use as excellent Refractory Agent in Manufacturing Unit.
- Fire protection applications, including chimney breasts, fire-resistance chipboard, the Manufacture of bricks and tiles and even fire-resistant paint.
- High temperature coating.
| S.No | CHE.COMPONENTS | PRESENCE | USAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Si2O3 | 35-41 % | Packing Material |
| 2 | Al2O3 | 12 - 21 % | Brooding aid forreptile/poultry,Gasket |
| 3 | Fe2O3 | 11 - 23 % | Bricks, Concrete |
| 4 | Mgo | 11 - 15 % | Paint Industry, Break Lining |
| 5 | K2O | 1 - 5 % | Chimney Lining |
| 6 | Cao | 1 - 3 % | Fire Board, Aga Coocker Lining |
| 7 | Tio2 | 0 - 1 % | viticulture |
| 8 | Na2O3 | 0.5 - 1 % | waste Treatment |
| 9 | L.o.i | 5 - 9 % | Acoustic Insulator |
Reference Images:
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- Raw Vermiculite
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- Raw Vermiculite
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- Processed Vermiculite: (1 to 2 mm)
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- Processed Vermiculite: (4 to 6 mm)
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- Raw Vermiculite: (2 to 4 mm)
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- Exfoliated Vermiculite: (1)
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- Exfoliated Vermiculite: (2)
Application of Vermiculite:
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- (a) Agriculture & Horticulture Application
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- (b) Brake Pad Lining Application
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- (c) Wire Board & Construction Wall Application
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- (d) Painting & Ceiling Application
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