Product Description
Wollastonite
Wollastonite is naturally occuing white mineral which acts as an acicular reinforcing filler.Wollastonite powders are sourced from a high quality deposit based in China.wollastonite's principal characteristic is a high aspect ratio,which provides a reinforcing effect when used in many applications.
Physical properties
Specific gravity | 2.9 |
Loose bulk density | 0.7kg/litre |
Moisture (% loss at 105℃) | 0.1 |
Color is typically white,colorless or gray.
Luster is vitreous or dull to pearly on cleavage surfaces.
Trasparency:Crytals are generally translucent and rarely transparent.
Crystal habits include rare tabular crystals but more commonly massive in lamellar,radiating,compact and fibrous aggregates.
Hardness is 5-5.5
Other Characteristics:Soluble in hydrochloric acid and some specimens will fluoresce.
Typical chemical analysis (weight %)
SiO2 | 50 |
Al2O3 | 1 |
Fe2O3 | 0.3 |
CaO | 45 |
MgO | 0.8 |
Na2O+K2O | 0.2 |
Loss on ignition 1000℃ | 3 |
Major Applications of Wollastonite
Ceramics: Wollastonite is currently used in structural clay products,such as bricks,sewer pipes and tiles;whiteware products,such as floor and wall tile and porcelain;and various kinds of advanced ceramics.The use of wollastonite in these products offers benfits such as enhanced mechanical reinforcement and stregh,shorter drying times,reduced expansion during exposure to heat,and improved surface integrity and appearance.
Construction Products: In the construction industry, wollastonite is finding growing acceptance in many types of products,including concrete,mortar,sanitary pipes,wood composition caulking and sealants,and calcium silicate board.In addition to providing improved strength and dimensional stability,the use of wollastonite in construction products has also been found to offer other important advantages such as improved weather resistance,greater resistance to mildew,and diminished vulnerability to surface and structural damage such as scratches,cracks,and mars.
Paints and Coatings:Wollastonite has been used in many types of industrial and marine paints,as well as in powder,architectural,and roof and underbody coatings.The benefits that result depend on the nature of the specific application,but some of the more common advantages the wollastonite offers include greater durability and corrosion resistance,improved film integrity and adhesion properties,increased resistance to cracking and chipping,better scrub and weather resistance,enhanced colour fastness,and reduced susceptibility to ultraviolet degradation.
Metallrugy:As a natural low temperature fluxing mineral,wollastonite is well-suited to metallurgical applications.Currently the most important of these applications are found within the steel industry,where the mineral has been found to be highly effective in enhacing continuous casting processes.Key benefits resulting from the use of wollastonite have included prevention of reoxidization,improved lubrication,better absortion of non-metallic inclusions,and more uniform heat transfer.
Plastics:Wollastonite has proven to be an ideal additive for enhancing the performance of fibre reinforced polymer composites and engineered plastics that are used in a wide variety of industries.When used in these products,the mineral serves to help improve dimensional stability,enhance strength and stiffness properties,reduce susceptibility to heat distortionand shrinkage,and provide improved surface quality and durability.In addition,wollastonite has also been shown to improve electrical insulation properties and in many cases has resulted in both attractive cost savings and greater scrap reduction.
Friction Materials:Wollastonite is finding growing acceptance as a source of reinforcing fibres and fillers in various types of friction materials.Increasingly,it is being used as a replacement for more traditional materials such as asbestos,chopped or milled glass fibres,or milled glass fibres,or synthetic materials.Common applications include friction papers and vehicle components such as drum linings and disc pads.When used in these applications,benefits that result include improved physical and mechanical properties,reduced susceptibility to cracking,noise reduction,and in many cases,noticeabe cost savings.