wollastonite
வோலாஸ்டோனைட் mines and Mining minerals in India. AI Limeshell Enterprises Minerals and Ores Natural Stones Chemicals Trading Company Exports Leading Manufacturer in Chennai Tamilnadu India.
Wollastonite is a naturally occurring calcium and silica mineral (CaSiO₃) prized for its unique needle-like (acicular) crystals and its use as a reinforcing filler in plastics, ceramics, and paints.
It improves material properties such as flexural strength, dimensional stability, and heat resistance. Major deposits are found in India.
Chemical Composition: Calcium, silicon, and oxygen (CaSiO₃), though it can contain impurities like iron, magnesium, and manganese.
Crystal Structure: Aggregates of bladed or needle-like crystals.
Color: Typically bright white, but impurities can cause gray, cream, brown, or red colors.
Hardness: 4.5 on the Mohs scale.
Industrial Applications
Plastics and Rubber: Used as a reinforcing filler to enhance strength, improve dimensional stability, and reduce shrinkage compared to other fillers.
Ceramics: A source of calcium and silica, competing with other minerals like carbonates and feldspar in ceramic formulations.
Paints: Acts as a functional filler.
Adhesives: Used to improve bonding and functionality in adhesive systems.
Other Uses: Found in marine wallboard, refractory liners, and certain brake-lining applications as a replacement for asbestos fibers.
Mineral Source and Processing
Occurrence: Major deposits exist in Rajasthan, India, with smaller occurrences in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Processing: Often treated with chemical surface treatments to improve compatibility with polymers, leading to better performance in plastics.
Benefits and Advantages
Reinforcement: Its acicular shape provides significant improvement in flexural modulus and tensile strength.
Dimensional Stability: Helps increase the stability of plastic compounds.
Heat Resistance: Contributes to a higher heat deflection temperature in materials.
Lightweight: Can be used to reduce the weight of products.