Expanded Perlite

Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content. It occurs naturally and has the unusual property of greatly expanding when heated sufficiently. Perlite Source: US Government File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Perlite Source: US Government File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... An amorphous solid is a solid in which there is no long-range order of the positions of the atoms. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... Glass can be made transparent and flat, or into other shapes and colors as shown in this sphere from the Verrerie of Brehat in Brittany. ... Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. ...

Properties and uses

When it reaches temperatures of 850–900 °C, perlite softens (since it is a glass). Water trapped in the structure of the material escapes and vapourises and this causes the expansion of the material to 7–15 times its original volume. The expanded material is a brilliant white, due to the reflectivity of the trapped bubbles.
Unexpanded ("raw") perlite bulk density: around 1100 kg/m³ (1.1 g/cm³).
Typical expanded perlite bulk density: 30–150 kg/m³ Bulk density a property of particulate materials. ...

Due to its low density and relatively low price, many commercial applications for perlite have developed. In the construction and manufacturing fields, it is used in lightweight plasters and mortars, insulation, ceiling tiles and filter aids. In horticulture it makes composts more open to air, while still having good water-retention properties; it makes a good medium for hydroponics. Perlite is also used in foundries, cryogenic insulations, as a lightweight aggregate in mortar (firestop) and in ceramics as a clay additive. Cranes are essential in large construction projects, such as this skyscraper In project architecture and civil engineering, construction is the building or assembly of any infrastructure on a site. ... // Gypsum plaster Plaster of Paris, or simply plaster, is a type of building material based on calcium sulfate hemihydrate, nominally (CaSO₄)₂*H₂O. It is created by heating gypsum to about 150 ℃, 2(CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) → (CaSO₄)₂ · H₂O + 3 H₂O (released as steam). ... Mortar holding weathered bricks. ... The term Thermal Insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer. ... The Latin words hortus (garden plant) and cultura (culture) together form horticulture, classically defined as the culture or growing of garden plants. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the factory that makes castings of metal. ... Cryogenics is the study of very low temperatures or the production of the same, and is often confused with cryobiology, the study of the effect of low temperatures on organisms, or the study of cryopreservation. ... Firestop mortar, starts as a powder, is mixed with water, forms cement stone, dries hard, is often leavened with lightweight aggregates, such as perlite or vermiculite and pigmented to distinguish it from generic materials in an effort to prevent unlawful substitution and to enable verification of bounding. ... Ceramics is the art form that uses ceramic materials to produce works of art. ... The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of clay. ...

Typical analysis of perlite

• 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)

R-phrases R42 R43 R49 S-phrases S22 S36 S37 S45 S53 Flash point non-flammable Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Aluminium oxide is a chemical compound of aluminium and oxygen with the chemical formula Al2O3. ... Basic Information Flash point Non flammable Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Potassium oxide is a compound of potassium and oxygen used mainly as a intermediate in inorganic synthesis. ... Iron oxide pigment There are a number of iron oxides: Iron oxides Iron(II) oxide or ferrous oxide (FeO) The black-coloured powder in particular can cause explosions as it readily ignites. ... Magnesium oxide Magnesium oxide is a white solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase and is a source of magnesium. ... Calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as lime, quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound. ...

Value

In 2001 the cost of perlite was about US$36.31 per metric ton. The yearend price for mined perlite has increased since then^[1]: This article is about the year 2001. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 3. ... A tonne (also called metric ton) is a non-SI unit of mass, accepted for use with SI, defined as: 1 tonne = 103 kg (= 106 g). ...

2001.....$36.31 per metric ton

2002.....$36.45 per metric ton

2003.....$38.20 per metric ton

2004.....$40.57 per metric ton

2005.....$42.48 per metric ton

A tonne (also called metric ton) is a non-SI unit of mass, accepted for use with SI, defined as: 1 tonne = 103 kg (= 106 g). ...

See also

• Vermiculite (Many expanders of perlite are also exfoliating vermiculite and belong to both trade associations)
• Diatomite (used for filter-aids)
• Industrial minerals
• Mortar (firestop)

Vermiculite is a natural mineral which expands with the application of heat. ... Diatomaceous earth (also known as diatomite, DE or kieselguhr) is a naturally occurring, light-colored, solid material that is easily crumbled into a fine dust. ... Industrial minerals are geological materials which are mined for their commercial value, which are not fuel (fuel minerals or mineral fuels) and are not sources of metals (metallic minerals). ... Firestop mortar, starts as a powder, is mixed with water, forms cement stone, dries hard, is often leavened with lightweight aggregates, such as perlite or vermiculite and pigmented to distinguish it from generic materials in an effort to prevent unlawful substitution and to enable verification of bounding. ...

References

1. ^ (January 2006) "Perlite". U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries,: 122-123. [1].

External links

• The Perlite Institute
• Perlite Information Source
• Manufacturer of Perlite Expansion Equipment
• Mineral Information Institute - perlite