PERLITE

We supply ore perlite for different kind of purposes such as construction, agriculture, foundry, cryogenic, glass and ceramic industries in domestic and international markets.

The main application areas of raw perlite:

• Internal and external construction plasters,

• Abrasive industry as an abrasive,

• It is enduring against of asids and bases used in the production of sewer pipe ,

• Used in construction with its durable feature against frost

• Water insulation on the roof and terrace

• Used in Ceramics and Glass industries,

• To build swimming pool,

• Sand skating in Railways,

• It provides heat insulation as plaster or used in the production of insulated lighweight

structural elements ,

• The filter sand and gravel in the water filtering plants,

• Applications of asphalt road construction used as fill material,

• In the Casting sector as metallurgical flux,

• As an additive to the foundry sand ,

• Protection of the molten metal in the pot ,

• In the iron and steel industry for controlling of molten metal and slag

• Production of refractories ,

• Ceramic binder perlite refractory bricks

• Perlite refractory mortars ,

• Gypsum and construction chemicals ,

Our company has started to produce ore perlite recently but the raw perlite from our deposit is

homogeneous and its expansion rate very high.The capacity of raw perlite facility 30 Ton /h

perlite, expanded perlite, unexpanded perlite, raw perlite, ore perlite,

Geology and Chemistry

Perlite is a generic term for naturally occurring siliceous rock. It is a form of natural glass which like pitchstone, obsidian and other similar contains “combined water”. Perlite (containing 1,9% – 4,8% wt. “chemical” or combined water) was formed over a few million years by the chemical weathering of obsidian at the earth’s surface. Perlite deposits that are considered as exploitable for industrial uses, are distinguished in pumiceous (more frothy and least dense), granular and onionskin.

When dispersed in aqueous suspensions results in neutral pH. The main constituent of perlite is amorphous silica ( SiO₂=70-76%) while it also contains lower quantities of aluminum (Al₂O₃ =12-14%), potassium (K₂O=4,4-5,6%), sodium (Na₂O=2,6-5,1%), calcium (CaO=0,5-1,0%), iron (Fe₂O₃=0,4-1,5%) and magnesium (MgO up to 0,4%). The major part of the total alkalis (Na₂O+K₂O=6-10%) is present in the amorphous matrix forming a solid solution. More than 90% of a commercial perlite is amorphous while the rest consists of minor crystal surfaces like feldspars, mica and quartz.

Technical Characteristics
The distinguishing feature, which sets perlite granules apart from other volcanic glasses, is that when heated rapidly it expands from four to twenty times its original apparent volume. Perlite granules’ expansion is caused due to the presence of the “chemically bound” water (i.e. OH^-, Silanol groups SiOH, absorbed H₂O associated with exchangeable ions, H₂O bound through Hydrogen bonding) in the crude perlite rock. When perlite is quickly heated to above 870°C, it enters the “softening area” and the “bound” water exerts forces that push the granules walls from inside to “pop up” in a manner similar to popcorn as the H₂O vaporises and creates countless tiny bubbles which account for the light weight (i.e. very low Loose Bulk Density -LBD) and other exceptional physical properties (e.g. low thermal conductivity). These distinguishing characteristics (Table 1) make expanded granular perlite adaptable for numerous traditional and new applications.

In addition, unexpanded, milled, graded perlite is successfully used in various other industrial sectors. In these applications it is not the expandability of perlite but other chemical, physicochemical and physical properties that play a key-role, such as the significant content of amorphous silica (65-75%), which is chemically very reactive against certain solutions and chemical compounds, the rather high alkalis content, the abrasiveness of the perlite granules, etc.

Technology and Commercial Grades
The production of expanded perlite is a two-stage process. The ore is firstly mined, pre-crushed, ground and graded in the processing plant, which is usually located nearby to the mine site or to the loading/shipping point. The output of such plants is a series of co-produced perlite grades (having grain sizes between 3,5 mm and 0,075 mm. Sized perlite grades are then transported either bulk or in big-bags to the expansion plants hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away to expansion plants. There, sized unexpanded perlite grains are fed in vertical furnaces where they are expanded to form lightweight perlite cellular bubbles. This special granular lightweight product is afterwards mechanically (e.g. through dry or wet mixing) or otherwise incorporated into the various end-products.

Typical Applications of Perlite

1. Construction applications (Thermal-acoustical insulation ceiling tiles, Lightweight concrete, plasters and mortars, Loose fill insulation in cavity walls, etc.)

2. Horticulture applications (Hydroponic cultivation, Growing Media mixed with sand and peat (sphagnum moss)

3. Food and chemical industry (Filter-Aids, Phosphoric Acid production for Fertilizers)

4. “Super-insulating” material (Cryogenics and Low Temperature insulation, Alkali Silicate bonded preformed products, Calcium silicate preformed products,

5.  There are various other less important applications, like “topping” in Steel and Foundry industries, high performance micro-fillers for coatings, pozzolan and superpozzolan, abrasive in soaps, cleaners, and polishes, in textile processing industry as fabric ageing material, etc. These latter applications account for <5% of the total perlite market by volume and value.

What is Perlite?

Perlite is a naturally occurring siliceous rock that expands 4 to 20 times its original size when rapidly heated to approximately 1,700 °F. In reality, expanded Perlite is a "popped rock" that is inert, lightweight, sterile, permanent, incombustible, asbestos-free, non-toxic, rot and vermin proof and has a neutral pH.

How does Perlite expand?

Two types of water, H₂O and OH (a negatively charged water of hydration) are contained and internally bound in Perlite ore. When rapidly heated to an appropriate temperature, Perlite's silicate structure softens and both types of water turn to steam, blowing or expanding the viscous mass into a glassy silicate bubble froth consisting of tiny closed air cells on the inside surrounded by an extremely large broken bubble surface structure. As an analogy, think of popping popcorn.

What are Perlite's physical properties after expansion?

Perlite is a natural combination of mixed glassy silicates making it inert and resistant to chemical attack, except for hot concentrated alkali and hydrofluoric acid. It slows thermal conductance, is incombustible (melts above 2000°F) and has no buffering capability. Each Perlite particle resembles a glassy froth of bubbles. The internal structure consists of numerous tiny closed air-filled cells. This structure imparts lightness, natural insulating properties and limited compressive strength. Liquids cannot penetrate the cells. Perlite's external surface is composed of broken bubbles surrounding the closed frothy cells and is open, extremely large and jagged. This irregular surface adsorbs or holds matter making it an ideal filtration media. In horticulture, Perlite's surface helps keep planting media open and lightweight. It provides a pathway for air and moisture to access plant roots. It holds moisture and nutrients for assimilation by roots over time. Perlite's high capillary action benefits hydroponic growing and its sharpness can scarify pests as well as act as a polishing agent and scrubber in various products.

What elements are found in Perlite?

Typical elemental analyses show that Perlite contains silicon, aluminum, potassium, sodium combined with oxygen and other trace elements. Each Perlite ore deposit has separate and distinct ratios of these mixed glassy silicate which explains why certain deposits are better for specific applications. See Tech Info for a Typical Elemental Analysis.

Does Perlite come in different sizes and weights?

Perlite is available in its crude ore form and in expanded product grades. Densities range from as high as 80 lbs./cu. ft. for ore and as light as 3.0 lbs./cu. ft. when expanded. A specific application dictates which product grade is most compatible.

What Perlite products does TURKPERLITE offer?

In certain cases, we can tailor products for your specific use. In general, we make products for horticulture, construction and industry. Horticultural Perlite is sterile and has a neutral pH. When used in propagation and planting media, it insures excellent aeration and drainage. It also lightens media and increases total pore space for healthy root growth and development. Perlite keeps media open and friable so that plants can be transplanted with minimum root tear. Those pesky garden weeds can be easily pulled too!

Does Perlite help fertilize plants?

No. Perlite is sterile with no nutrient release. However, Perlite will retain moisture and nutrients on its surface area for use by the plant. Normal fertilization and watering routines must be used. Perlite offers no buffering or cation exchange.

How can I tell if my planting mix is amended with Perlite?

Give the "little white particle" the thumbnail test. There are three prevalent soil amendments in the northwest and they are all white or off-white. Push your thumbnail into the middle of a particle. If it springs back, it's polystyrene. If it's resistant to breakage, it's pumice. If you can put your nail through it with moderate resistance, it's Perlite!

How does Perlite's light weight help?

Reduced media weights will lighten workers' loads when handling plants or media. Lighter planting media decreases worker injury potential. Also, reduced shipping weights result in more product shipped per truckload.

Can landscapers benefit from using Perlite?

Absolutely! Perlite changes soil structure. Clay soils will drain better while sandy, droughty soils will retain more moisture. Perlite amended planting areas are easier to work with making weed-pulling a snap. Rooftop Gardens, balcony planters and movable planters all can benefit from decreased weights. Fully watered soil weighs up to 125 lbs. per cu. ft. whereas a well wetted Perlite/peat moss mix weighs as little as 40 lbs. per cu. ft.

Why is Perlite used in construction?

Perlite is substituted for sand or heavier aggregates in concrete and plaster mixes to reduce weights and achieve better insulation and fire protection. Perlite is naturally incombustible, resistant to thermal transmission and lightweight. Using lighter Perlite materials means that, in turn, structural building elements can be smaller, lighter and less expensive.

What construction applications utilize Perlite?

Applications of lightweight Perlite concrete and plaster include roof deck construction, non-load bearing curtain walls, floor fills, slabs on grade, floating floors, chimney-lining systems, underground pipe insulation, bricks, tiles, fire door cores, radiant floor heating, in-ground swimming pool base and loose fill insulation.

What about Perlite's insulation uses?

Perlite's R-value is nearly 3.0 per inch at 6-lbs./cu. ft. density. It registers 0,0,0 on ASTM's E-84 fire tests for flame spread, fuel contribution and smoke density. Construction Grade Perlite is poured directly from the bag into CMU block and cavity walls. UL Design U905 shows that a 2-hour fire rated 8", 10" or 12" concrete block wall improves to 4-hours when cells are filled with Perlite insulation.

What industrial applications benefit from Perlite?

Perlite is used as a filler, extender and texturizing agent in numerous products. It displaces expensive resins and reduces unit weights. Perlite's filler applications include caulks, textures, joint and taping compounds, paints, polishes, hand cleaners and explosives. Additional uses include filtration, waste water treatment, oil clean-up, sludge solidification, exothermic toppings, slag treatment, insulating refractories, low density well drilling mud, foundry core and molds, formed products, shipping dunnage and adsorbent.

What are future uses of Perlite?

Future Perlite uses will evolve out of a better understanding of its attributes, improved processing capabilities and knowledge of synergies realized when combined with other products. Some possibilities are:

• Growing with much less water
• Increased hydroponic growing
• Methyl bromide replacement growing cultures
• More rapid composting
• Physical insecticide
• Activated material carrier
• Stronger aggregate for lighter but stronger concrete.

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