Brief rundown on applications of wollastonite

The mineral wollastonite was christened after the English chemist Sir William Hyde Wollaston in 18th century. In nature the mineral is found in needle like crystals. The mineral is found in 35 nations with rich reserves in Mexico. A wollastonite supplier situated in USA or Canada often sources the mineral from Mexico. The quality of the mineral is judged by its lack of impurities. Although the mineral is also found in USA, its sources are scarce. The mineral is white in color and has high melting point. The usual melting point is 1512ºC. The flash point of the mineral is in the range of nine hundred to twelve hundred degrees centigrade.

The mineral wollastonite is used all over the world as a reinforcing agent. For a novice to the mineral industry it is a mineral used in making building materials. Its chemical name is calcium silicate. It is extensively used in the making of ceramic products. It is also used in the making of refractory bricks and refractory powder. Refractory bricks are high temperature resistant bricks. These bricks are used to line the inner surface of furnaces in the metal industry. Refractory material is in huge demand all over the world. The world steel industry is completely dependant on it. Tundish is an important refractory material and wollastonite is a main constituent of Tundish.

Wollastonite has many other useful industrial applications. It is used in the automotive industry to make clutch parts, brake pads, gaskets, and friction papers. Many automobile manufacturers use wollastonite as replacement for asbestos. Although asbestos is quite useful it is highly carcinogenic. Thus Wollastonite makes a harmless replacement for asbestos. The next industrial application is in the field of polymer manufacturing. Since the mineral is a reinforcing agent, it is used to mould shapes out of polymers. The mineral is used extensively in the paint industry because of its high PH value and low moisture content. Its low oil adsorption property makes it a good raw material for paint industry. In metallurgical applications it is used as coating of welding rod. Such a coating helps in controlling the viscosity of the slag. It is widely used in the cement industry. It is used as a strengthening additive in cement production.

There are few points which need to be considered while choosing a wollastonite supplier. The first point is the quality check. A good supplier will provide a chemical and physical analysis certificate along with the shipment. The packing of the wollastonite is also quite important. They are usually packaged in many different sizes. For small orders they can also be packed in 25kg or 50 kg bags. For very large requirements a good supplier must be ready to ship the material in rail cars with closed hoppers. The supplier must also have a valid federal EPA license. The wollastonite supplier must comply with O.S.H.A and must have safe track record.

George Lewis is the author of this article on Wollastonite.
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