General
- Wollastonite is a
naturally occurring mineral, which provides strength and improved
performance for plastics, coating, friction, refractory, construction,
elastomer, and sealant applications. Due to the high quality and
acicular structure of NYCO’s ores, a broad range of high aspect-ratio
and powder wollastonite grades are produced.
- Wollastonite is a
calcium inosilicate mineral (CaSiO3) that may contain small amounts of
iron, magnesium, and manganese substituting for calcium. It is usually
white. It forms when impure limestone or dolostone is subjected to high
temperature and pressure sometimes in the presence of silica-bearing
fluids as in skarns or contact metamorphic rocks. Calc-silicate rock
with wollastonite (white), grossular + vesuvianite (reddisch), diopside
(grey-green). Greyish mass (left) replacing red and green material is
calcite + tremolite.
Manufacturing Technology
- One of the most
unusual things about wollastonite is that it can be made to cleave
into needle-like crystals. Using special processing techniques, very
fine fibers with an extremely high aspect-ratio (length:diameter)
can be produced. The aspect ratio of these specially ground
particles is commonly between 5:1 and 15:1 and may be more than 20:1
depending on the milling technique. NYCO produces a variety of high
aspect-ratio (HAR) grades to suit a variety of applications.
- A 10-micron
wollastonite has an oil absorption of about 30, whereas mica
measures approximately 70. Consequently, wollastonite can be used in
high-solids systems, where obtaining low viscosity and low volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) are crucial.The “SILEN-wollastonite”
deposition method may be used for repairing various lined chambers,
furnaces, heat-generating units, for protecting all metal
constructions from fire.
Applications
- In plastics,
wollastonite improves the durability of the composite due to its
acicular or needle-like structure. Wollastonite has found
application as a substitute for asbestos in fire-resistant building
products used in the construction industry. In metallurgical
applications, wollastonite is used due to its low water solubility,
low loss on ignition and its Ca–Si ratio.
- Wollastonite
can be used in a variety of ceramic applications including ceramic
glazes and bodies, enamels, frits, fluxes and in sanitaryware. Due
to its physical structure and non-hazardous properties, wollastonite
is used as a reinforcing additive in many friction applications.
Wollastonite also used in adhesives, friction products (brakes and
clutches), joint compounds, metallurgical applications, refractories,
and wallboard.
Market &
Report
- The two largest
producing wollastonite deposits in the world are both located in
upstate New York flanking the Adirondack Mountains. Canada, is a
more recent discovery of wollastonite in a geologic setting similar
to that of the New York deposits. Drilling by the Cominco/Platinova
joint venture has defined total ore reserves exceeding 0.9 Mt
(1 million st) in two separate deposits grading from 39 to 47%
wollastonite
- The only other
deposits which have been mined for wollastonite in the United States
are in California. A small amount has been mined from a deposit in
Kern County where Paleozoic limy sediments have been intruded by
Mesozoic granitic rocks where the wollastonite is associated with
diopside and garnet.
- While
wollastonite production from North America dominates the world
market, a significant and increasing share of production comes from
Europe and Asia, specifically Finland, India, and China. Future
prospects for the wollastonite market appear to be very good with a
great deal of healthy investment being concentrated on the
long-fibre market.
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