Vermiculite - the fire solid mineral

Vermiculite, also called expanded mica, is an inorganic, mineral and natural rock and belongs to the family of clay minerals.

Vermiculite exfoliates like an accordion and enlarges by multiple times than the original ore with rapid heating (from 800 ° C). The colour of the mineral varies slightly from grey to brown, depending on its origin.

Applications of Vermiculite
In construction industry Vermiculite is mainly used in fire-sensitive areas such as chimney channels. Vermiculite is also suitable as a lightweight aggregate for fire-retardant spray plaster. Conventional concrete becomes 6 times lighter when Vermiculite is added to the cement. Vermiculite is a 100% natural raw material and particularly suitable for use in ecological homes.

Characteristics of Vermiculite:

• Density: 70-140 kg / m³
• Lambda: 0.05 to 0.08 W / m. K
• PH: 5.5-10
• Solubility: insoluble in water and organic solvents
• Fire behaviour: non-flammable - Fire class A1
• Melting point: + 1350 ° C
• Appearance: worm-shaped, brown or tawny
• Volatile organic compounds: no
• Asbestos: no

Chemical composition (main elements)

• Silicon                                  SiO2         38-46%
• Aluminium                            Al2O3      10-16%
• Magnesium oxide                MgO         16-35%
• Iron Oxide                            Fe2O3      5.0-13%
• Titanium oxide                     TiO2         1.0-3.0%
• Calcium oxide                      CaO         1.0-5.0%
• Pottasium oxide                   K2O         1.0-6.0%
• Water                                   H2O         3.0-16%