1. Overview:
- Lump stone is exploited from natural stone quarries and chopped into many different sizes with average diameter from 10 to 60cm, the size and shape of them are uneven.
- Based on the size, lump stone is divided into 2 types:
Lump size: 20x30cm, 20x40cm, 40x60cm, 10x40cm, 5x40cm, 5x10cm
Chip size: 1x3cm, 2x3cm, 4x6cm
2. Specification:
+ Usually white in color
+ Have good durability and sustain high compressive strength.
+ Have good water resistance.
| PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS | CHEMISTRY COMPONENT |
| Whiteness | ≥97% | CaCO3 content | ≥98.5% |
| pH | 8.0 – 9.0 | MgO Content | ≤0.68% |
| Moisture | ≤0.2% | Fe2O3 content | ≤0.04% |
| Density | 2.7g/cm3 | Al2O3 content | ≤0.04% |
| Oil absorption | ≥97% | SiO2 content | ≤0.68% |
| Loss on ignition content | ≤43.58% | Na2O content | ≤0.16% |
| | | TiO2 content | ≤0.004% |
3. Application:
Lump stone is widely used in many industries:
- Glass production:
+ One of the main components of glass (about 20 - 25%)
+ Helps stabilize, adjust viscosity, increase the durability of glass
+ Enhance the resistance of glass in the natural environment
- Ceramic industry:
+ Raw materials for ceramic production need to have calcium oxide melting at 1050oC (this helps the calcination process reduce shrinkage, improve mechanical and chemical durability of ceramic products). Calcium Carbonate is that source.
+ How to use: CaCO3 is mixed with a large number of ceramics, in order to create the necessary expansion between the ceramic piece and the glaze layer, serving the calcination process, as well as providing the main source of CaO.
- Plastic and rubber industry:
+ Widely used in rigid PVC and in the production of plastic pipes and ceiling panels.
+ Calcium carbonate increases product durability, better dispersion in plastic chemicals, optimal product gloss, and improves production process. Helping to reduces costs without sacrificing to product quality.
+ Used in thermoset plastics to reduce costs, improve mechanical and optical properties. Control viscosity, coefficient of thermal expansion, product shrinkage.
- Detergent manufacturing industry
+ The hardness of CaCO3 is very suitable for detergent industry compared to other minerals. (For example, the hardness of CaCO3 is 3 mohs smaller than that of silica is 7 mohs)
+ With powder detergent: CaCO3 makes this form smoother, easier to use.
+ With cream detergent: need CaCO3 to be brighter and smoother than powder form.
- Environmental treatment industry:
+ CaCO3 helps to desulfurize in gas pipelines, tackle water sources, and calcify ponds to neutralize acids.
+ CaCO3 is considered as a neutralizer, anti-pollution, environmental protection because it does not contain toxic substances, does not pose a danger to human health and animals.
+ Absorb toxic gases accumulated at the pond bottom such as: NH3, H2S, CO2... and acid in the water, reduce the proportion of heavy metals toxicity in the pond.
+ Decompose dead algae, dirty suspended substances in the pond, balance the water environment, stabilize the pH.
+ Limit scum, purify water, increase dissolved oxygen (DO) in water. Limit pathogens, harmful bacteria in the water, glow bacteria in the pond...
- Agricultural and livestock industry:
+ CaCO3 is considered as an additive to produce animal feed products. Besides, it is also an essential source of nutrients for egg formation and bone development in poultry.
+ CaCO3 is used as a fertilizer to help plants grow, stabilize the pH of the soil, and provide nutrients for plants.
+ CaCO3 is also used as an additive for the pesticide industry because this mineral is quite environmentally friendly.