Perlite: Difference between revisions
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[[Patanvav|Osham hills of Patanvav, Gujarat, India]] are the only source of mineral Perlite in India. | [[Patanvav|Osham hills of Patanvav, Gujarat, India]] are the only source of mineral Perlite in India. | ||
The largest landslide in Icelandic history (the [[Loðmundarskriður]] in [[Loðmundarfjörður]]) was assisted by the mountain's high perlite composition. Plans to mine and export the perlite in the mid 20th century fell through. | |||
{{Anchor|Production and application}} | {{Anchor|Production and application}} | ||
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=== Construction and manufacturing === | === Construction and manufacturing === | ||
In the [[construction]] and manufacturing fields, it is used in lightweight [[plaster]]s, concrete and [[mortar (masonry)|mortar]], [[Thermal insulation|insulation]] and ceiling tiles.<ref name="usgs">Wallace P. Bolen [ | In the [[construction]] and manufacturing fields, it is used in lightweight [[plaster]]s, concrete and [[mortar (masonry)|mortar]], [[Thermal insulation|insulation]] and ceiling tiles.<ref name="usgs">Wallace P. Bolen [https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/myb1-2009-perli.pdf Perlite] USGS 2009 Minerals Yearbook</ref> It may also be used to build [[composite materials]] that are [[Sandwich structured composite|sandwich-structured]]<ref>Md Arifuzzaman and H. S. Kim, Novel flexural behaviour of sandwich structures made of perlite foam/sodium silicate core and paper skin, Construction and Building Materials, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 148 2017, pp 321–333.</ref> or to create [[syntactic foam]].<ref>Dipendra Shastri and H. S. Kim, “A new consolidation process for expanded perlite particles”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 60, June, 2014, pp.1–7.</ref> | ||
Perlite filters are fairly common in filtering [[beer]] before it is bottled.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} | Perlite filters are fairly common in filtering [[beer]] before it is bottled.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} | ||
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! colspan=2 | Estimated perlite consumption <br />in the U.S. by application<ref name=usgs2>[ | ! colspan=2 | Estimated perlite consumption <br />in the U.S. by application<ref name=usgs2>[https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2011-perli.pdf Perlite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513115852/https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2011-perli.pdf |date=2017-05-13 }}, USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2011</ref> | ||
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! Fraction !! Use<ref name="usgs2008">{{cite web|url= | ! Fraction !! Use<ref name="usgs2008">{{cite web|url=https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2008-perli.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514063904/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2008-perli.pdf |archive-date=2008-05-14 |url-status=live|title=PERLITE : (Data in thousand metric tons unless otherwise noted)|website=Minerals.usgs.gov|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> | ||
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| 53% || building construction products | | 53% || building construction products | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:200px; height:200px;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:200px; height:200px;" | ||
! colspan=2 | Cost of unexpanded perlite<ref>{{cite journal | ! colspan=2 | Cost of unexpanded perlite<ref>{{cite journal | ||
|date=January 2006 | | date = January 2006 | ||
| title = Perlite | | title = Perlite | ||
| journal = U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries | | journal = U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries | ||
| pages = 122–123 | | pages = 122–123 | ||
| url =http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/perlimcs06.pdf}}</ref> | | url = https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/perlimcs06.pdf | ||
| archive-date = 2006-09-13 | |||
| access-date = 2006-09-11 | |||
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060913105710/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/perlimcs06.pdf | |||
| url-status = dead | |||
}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
! End of<br/>year !! Price in the U.S.<br/>$ per [[Metric ton|metric ton]] | ! End of<br/>year !! Price in the U.S.<br/>$ per [[Metric ton|metric ton]] | ||
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===Substitutes=== | ===Substitutes=== | ||
Perlite can be replaced for all of its uses. Substitutes include:<ref name="usgs2013">{{citation|title=USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries|url= | Perlite can be replaced for all of its uses. Substitutes include:<ref name="usgs2013">{{citation|title=USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries|url=https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2013-perli.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528025129/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2013-perli.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-28 |url-status=live|year=2013}}</ref> | ||
*[[Diatomaceous earth|Diatomite]], used for filter-aids | *[[Diatomaceous earth|Diatomite]], used for filter-aids | ||
*[[Expanded clay aggregate|Expanded clay]], an alternative lightweight filler for building materials | *[[Expanded clay aggregate|Expanded clay]], an alternative lightweight filler for building materials | ||
Latest revision as of 20:40, 15 November 2025
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Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content, typically formed by the hydration of obsidian. It occurs naturally and has the unusual property of greatly expanding when heated sufficiently. It is an industrial mineral, suitable "as ceramic flux to lower the sintering temperature", and a commercial product useful for its low density after processing.[1]
Properties
Perlite softens when it reaches temperatures of Template:Convert. Water trapped in the structure of the material vaporises and escapes, and this causes the expansion of the material to 7–16 times its original volume. The expanded material is a brilliant white, due to the reflectivity of the trapped bubbles. Unexpanded ("raw") perlite has a bulk density around 1100 kg/m3 (1.1 g/cm3), while typical expanded perlite has a bulk density of about 30–150 kg/m3 (0.03–0.150 g/cm3).[2]
Typical analysis
- 70–75% silicon dioxide: SiO2
- 12–15% aluminium oxide: Al2O3
- 3–4% sodium oxide: Na2O
- 3–5% potassium oxide: K2O
- 0.5-2% iron oxide: Fe2O3
- 0.2–0.7% magnesium oxide: MgO
- 0.5–1.5% calcium oxide: CaO
- 3–5% loss on ignition (chemical / combined water)[3]
Sources and production
Perlite is a non-renewable resource. The world reserves of perlite are estimated at 700 million tonnes.[4]
The confirmed resources of perlite existing in Armenia amount to 150 million m3, whereas the total amount of projected resources reaches up to 3 billion m3.[5] Considering specific density of 1.1 ton/m3 confirmed reserves in Armenia amount to 165 million tons.
Other reported reserves are: Greece - 120 million tonnes, Turkey, USA and Hungary - about 49-57 million tonnes.[6][7]
Perlite world production, led by China, Turkey, Greece, USA, Armenia and Hungary, summed up to 4.6 million tonnes in 2018.[6][7]
Osham hills of Patanvav, Gujarat, India are the only source of mineral Perlite in India.
The largest landslide in Icelandic history (the Loðmundarskriður in Loðmundarfjörður) was assisted by the mountain's high perlite composition. Plans to mine and export the perlite in the mid 20th century fell through.
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Uses
Because of its low density and relatively low price (about US$150 per tonne of unexpanded perlite), many commercial applications for perlite have been developed.
Construction and manufacturing
In the construction and manufacturing fields, it is used in lightweight plasters, concrete and mortar, insulation and ceiling tiles.[8] It may also be used to build composite materials that are sandwich-structured[9] or to create syntactic foam.[10]
Perlite filters are fairly common in filtering beer before it is bottled.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Small quantities of perlite are also used in foundries, cryogenic insulation, and ceramics (as a clay additive).[11] It is also used by the explosives industry.[12]
Aquatic filtration
Perlite is an excellent filtration aid and is used extensively as an alternative to diatomaceous earth. The popularity of perlite usage as a filter medium is growing considerably worldwide.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Several products exist in the market to provide perlite based filtration. Several perlite filters and perlite media have met NSF-50 approval (Aquify PMF Series and AquaPerl), which standardizes water quality and technology safety and performance. Perlite can be safely disposed of through existing sewage systems, although some pool operators choose to separate the perlite using settling tanks or screening systems to be disposed of separately.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Biotechnology
Due to thermal and mechanical stability, non-toxicity, and high resistance against microbial attacks and organic solvents, perlite is widely used in biotechnological applications. Perlite was found to be an excellent support for immobilization of biocatalysts such as enzymes for bioremediation and sensing applications.[13]
Agriculture
In horticulture, perlite can be used as a soil amendment or alone as a medium for hydroponics or for starting cuttings. When used as an amendment, it has high permeability and low water retention and helps prevent soil compaction.[14]
Cosmetics
Perlite is used in cosmetics as an absorbent and mechanical exfoliant.[15][16] <templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>
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Substitutes
Perlite can be replaced for all of its uses. Substitutes include:[20]
- Diatomite, used for filter-aids
- Expanded clay, an alternative lightweight filler for building materials
- Shale
- Pumice
- Slag
- Vermiculite - many expanders of perlite are also exfoliating vermiculite and belong to both trade associations
Occupational safety
As perlite contains silicon dioxide, goggles and silica filtering masks are recommended when handling large quantities.
United States
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for perlite exposure in the workplace as 15 mg/m3 total exposure and 5 mg/m3 respiratory exposure over an 8-hour workday. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 10 mg/m3 total exposure and 5 mg/m3 respiratory exposure over an 8-hour workday.[21]
See also
References
External links
- The Perlite Institute
- Mineral Information Institute – perlite
- "That Wonderful Volcanic Popcorn." Popular Mechanics, December 1954, p. 136.
- CDC – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Md Arifuzzaman and H. S. Kim, "Prediction and evaluation of density and volume fractions for the novel perlite composite affected by internal structure formation", Construction and Building Materials, Vol 141, 2017, 201–215.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Wallace P. Bolen Perlite USGS 2009 Minerals Yearbook
- ↑ Md Arifuzzaman and H. S. Kim, Novel flexural behaviour of sandwich structures made of perlite foam/sodium silicate core and paper skin, Construction and Building Materials, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 148 2017, pp 321–333.
- ↑ Dipendra Shastri and H. S. Kim, “A new consolidation process for expanded perlite particles”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 60, June, 2014, pp.1–7.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Emulsion explosive composition containing expanded perlite United States Patent 4940497
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Perlite Template:Webarchive, USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2011
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