Tony Hansen on thu 10 apr 97
Anyone know what physical properties are needed in a kaolin to make
it suitable for use in fiberglass? Why would someone put it in
fiberglass anyway?
--
Tony Hansen, Plainsman
Ric Swenson on fri 11 apr 97
TONY HANSEN asked about what type of kaolin would be best to use in
fiberglass...that got me thinking about kaolin.....
Kaolin is used in LOTS of places. It is probably used in fiberglass as a
processing agent. Does someone out there know about fiberglass?
As I remember it...and I'm sure there will be LOTS of people who will want
to comment....
Kaolin (the original word comes from the name of a mountain ( was it Kao
Ling?) .... where they ( the Chinese potters of ancient times) found a
very pure white clay..a primary clay that had not travelled far from the
spot where erosion broke it down over 10,000 years...or so.....from Igneous
rock...like granite .....so it had not picked up much Stuff...like
oxides of iron, chrome, that would have colored it and made it less
pure...and fire yellow or brown...or what ever color surface secondary
clays become from all that travelling nd collecting Stuff along the way.
This hydrous silicate of alumina (clay) called KAOLIN by so many trade
names like Edgar's Plastic Kaolin (AKA ...."EPK"), Pioneer Kaolin, etc,
etc., is used best to make fine porcelain and during the Sung Dynasty..when
my favorite dead potters made pots...they did some REALLY nice potting with
kaolin. Kaolin is also, today used to make paper...the surface of white
paper is white and stable partially at least, because it has kaolin in it.
The plastic in the computer case you are staring at right now contains
"kaolin" as a filler/extender. Tires (tyres) on the car you might own use
kaolin as a filler /extender in the matrix of rubber and petroleum products
that make up the tires. KAOPECTATE that you drink if you have ...excuse
the word.. Diarrhea (sp?) There are many wonderful things that have clay
in them...and koalin is just one name for a type of "pure" material that is
used in many products too numerous to mention in this post.
The wonder of clay , its abundance in the earth's crust, and all its
variations all over the world, make it a material that has lots of uses,
including (thank God, pottery).
What will be left of your car in 10,000 years? .... Probably only the
porcelain used to make the spark plugs...(if your car has them now, of
course.)
Ric Swenson, Bennington, Vermont
stevemills on tue 15 apr 97
In message <334C7667.4D36@mlc.awinc.com>, Tony Hansen
writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Anyone know what physical properties are needed in a kaolin to make
>it suitable for use in fiberglass? Why would someone put it in
>fiberglass anyway?
>
>--
>Tony Hansen, Plainsman
I've used it when working on a boat as an opacifier/filler. It did both
well,no changes needed that I could see.
Steve
--
Steve Mills
@Bath Potters Supplies
Dorset Close
Bath
BA2 3RF
UK
Tel:(44) (0)1225 337046
Fax:(44) (0)1225 462712
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