Vermiculite: Industrial applications

Vermiculite has very varied industrial applications. Here are a few:

Aggregate for concrete, plaster and mortar:

Whether to reduce weight or increase fire resistance, vermiculite is widely used in aggregates such in plaster, concrete and mortar.

Filling:

Vermiculite flakes are very light and thus easy-to-handle. This quality makes vermiculite an ideal filling material for block walls, doors, and partitions. It is also found in transportation crates as packing for sensitive material, such as lithium cells, to avoid any accidental spill.

Heat and sound insulation:

Vermiculite has been used for many years in the oil, petrochemical, and gas industries to insulate ovens, reservoirs, and production material. But it can also be useful for more modest applications such as loose fill insulation of attics and floors, and in prefab or already installed partitions.

Fireproofing:

Vermiculite is non-combustible and, as such, an excellent material for fireproofing applications, such as chimney breast, composite fireproof panels, white coat, or in paints.

Absorbent material:

For several years, vermiculite has been used as absorbent material in large and small accidental spills of chemicals.

Other applications:

Vermiculite is also used for the incubation of reptile or turtle eggs, in the protective covers of automobile parts, and, of course, in horticulture.