Kaolinite

Other names: Aluminium silicate, kaolin, CI 77004

Kaolinite, also known as aluminium silicate, kaolin or CI 77004, is an important raw material in many industries. This white to cream mineral is characterised by its high flexibility and plasticity when wet. In the dry state, on the other hand, it is very hard and rigid. Kaolinite is mainly mined in areas with granites and other acidic igneous rocks, such as the Czech Republic, Germany, France, the UK, the USA and China.

Kaolinite is used as a basic raw material for the production of porcelain, ceramics, sanitary ware, building and insulation materials. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce medicines for diarrhoea and indigestion. In the cosmetics industry, kaolinite is an important component of various products such as powders, masks, make-up and other cosmetic treatments. In the food industry it is often used as an additive with the designation E559. In the field of science and technology, kaolinite is used to produce special materials such as low-temperature ceramic superconductors. It also has the ability to adsorb radioactive caesium and strontium, among other things, which is applied in the disposal of radioactive waste.