TALC APPLICATIONS

Talc basically has five characteristics that make it a valuable mineral for industrial and domestic

applications.

i. Softness

ii. Chemical inertness

iii. Lamellarity

iv. Whiteness

v. Affinity for Organic Chemicals

In fact, talc is found in everything from animal feed to tires, and has been for millennia. As long as 15,000 years ago, cave dwellers used talc in their paints. For at least 5,000 years, it has been used in cosmetics, especially as a skin lightener, and 1,000 years ago, the Chinese began using it in their glazed pottery. Listed below are several of Talc’s uses for the industries of the world:

​

1) Paper Industry:

Talc's number one consumer is the Paper Industry. It is used as filler and coating for paper products. Furthermore, talc helps control the paper's pitch while the paper is being processed. It improves paper smoothness, water retention in certain papers, and printability and

runnability for coated papers.

2) Ceramics Industry:

The Ceramics Industry is another talc consumer. The glazing and bodies of the ceramics rely on talc to give ceramics their gloss, whiteness and shape. Dinnerware, Sanitary ware, tiles,

porcelain, and electrical insulation are all part of ceramics made with talc. It is also used as a flux and to control thermal expansion - particularly in catalysts and particulate filters.

​

3) Paints Industry:

Talc is a major ingredient in Paint & Coatings. It helps control glosses, improves durability, fights rust (anti-corrosive), prevents cracking, and enhances smoothness. Pigment control and stability are also applications that talc adds to paint and coatings.

4) Food Industry:

Additives in Foods: Talc coats some foods such as Chewing Gum, Candy and Cured Meat as an anti-sticking agent. Olive Oil Processing: To improve oil extraction & clarity.

5) Personal Care Industry:

Due to Inert, soft and fragrance-retentive nature of Talc; it is used in manufacturing of Cosmetic Products.. The softness and oil absorption it offers make it a primary ingredient in blushes, eye shadows and powder compacts.. The oleophilic nature of talc makes it popular for dusting on the body in both baby powder and body cream. It helps absorb wetness and odor produced by the human body.

o the powder can be applied to help in chaffing and rubbing of the body extremities.

o Foot powder is usually made from talc, to help stop odor and wetness.

Talc used in cosmetics is required to be of high purity and is reduced to fine particles for preparation.

6) Soap Industry:

Since pre-historic age Talc is being used as soap that is why Talc is also named as Soap Stone.

o Reducing the cost of detergents, talc acts as a carrier for many soaps. Talc is harmless to our skin and is inert making it the ideal mineral to put in detergents as a filler.

o Body soap is sometimes made of talc. It acts as a filler and does not hurt the skin.

7) Plastics Industry:

Plastics are involved with talc as well. Talc adds the following properties to plastic:

o It improves impact absorbing strength, gives stability, and helps in the electrical insulation of plastics.

o Talc helps to improve plastic's ability to resist chemical and heat forces, as well as improves plastic's hardness, tensile strength and stiffness.

o Talc has a huge demand as the filler mineral in plastics, because it is platy, inert, and an electrical resister.

8) Rubber Hoses, Membranes, Sealing, Stoppers & Tires:

Talc's many uses can also be found in Rubber Companies. It helps give rubber its bounce. Rubber hoses made with talc are used in just about every automobile on the market. With its

high heat resistance and bonding power talc helps make the hoses less permeable.

9) Pharmaceutical Industry:

o Many anti- fungal powders include talc to help kill bacteria off and improve the odor of the body.

o Talc is used in many commercial antacids for stomach and indigestion problems. The high resistance of acids and chemicals in the stomach make talc a good filler for

the tablets.

o Many ointments include talc because of its ability to not react with chemicals. These ointments are used to treat things like scabies and insect bites.

o Pills are often coated in talc to help keep moisture out of them. This is why talc is a vital pharmaceutical mineral.

​

10) Farming Industry:

The Farming Industry uses talc to help preserve their cattle feed. Talc forms an anti-caking wrap on the feed that helps stop moisture from entering or leaving the feed. Talc is also used to help reduce the bacteria in the feed troughs for the animals.

11)Electrical Industry:

o Electrical Insulators are often made with talc. This lowers the wasted energy produced from electrical devices.

o Cables: To improve electrical insulation and flame retardancy.

12)Textile Industry:

Finely ground Talc is used for bleaching of cotton sacks.

13) Some Other Uses:

o Talc accelerates sedimentation of bacteria in Wastewater Treatment Plants.

o Talc makes a wonderful Smooth Filler for many products. Pencils need talc to keep their softness and improve their adhesion.

o Counter Tops are often made from the mineral talc. Talc’s resistance to chemical acids and bases make it the ideal candidate for the job.

o Talc is an Odor Absorber and improves Heat Resistance in many industrial products.

o Talc is used by the Gymnast to dry their hands for a better grip on rings, beam, floor, bars, vault and horse. In addition, talc is used on the gymnasts feet so they may get a better foot grip on the beam and floor. Gymnastic equipment is usually covered with

talc after a practice.

o Cereal polishing, shoe polish, ink, dry fire extinguishing powder, many floor waxes and joint compounds include talc as well.