Industrial Minerals
Paint & Coatings
Extenders that hold opacity, control sheen and keep a formulation from settling in the can.
The problem
Titanium dioxide is the most expensive thing in the can and the formulation has to hold opacity, sheen and anti-settling behaviour while using as little of it as the market will accept. Every extender decision is a trade between cost, hiding power and how the film ages.
What we supply
We supply the four extenders that do most of that work — talc, kaolin, calcite and barytes — plus mica and wollastonite where crack resistance or corrosion inhibition is the point. Low-iron, consistent lot to lot, with the brightness and oil absorption certified per lot so your batch sheet does not move.
Choosing a grade
| What you are solving | What we would quote | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flatting and burnish resistance | Talc XT-325 / XT-500 | Platy habit flattens without chalking |
| TiO₂ extension | Calcined kaolin, Calcite XC-1500 | Spaces the pigment and holds opacity |
| Anti-corrosive primer | Wollastonite XW-MAR | Alkaline pH helps flash-rust control |
| Crack bridging, exterior | Mica XM-D325 | High aspect ratio reinforces the film |
| High-solids and automotive | Barytes XR-Paint | Very low oil absorption at high loading |
| Economy emulsion | Calcite XC-800, Dolomite XD-400 | Lowest cost per litre of volume |
These are starting points, not prescriptions. Send your current material's data sheet and we will match it properly rather than guessing from a mesh number.
Minerals for paint & coatings
6 of the minerals we supply end up in this industry. Here is what each one is actually doing once it is in the mix.
- Talc — Extender pigment for flatting, anti-settling and burnish resistance.
- China Clay (Kaolin) — TiO₂ extender, flatting agent and film reinforcement.
- Mica Powder — Crack bridging, barrier, flatting and sheen control.
- Calcite / Ground Calcium Carbonate — Volume extender in emulsion and industrial paints.
- Barytes (Barite) — High-solids primers and automotive undercoats.
- Wollastonite — Anti-corrosive primers, powder coatings, matting with reinforcement.
Talc
Soft, platy magnesium silicate. The workhorse extender in paint, plastics, paper and rubber.
China Clay (Kaolin)
Fine white aluminium silicate. Brightness and coverage in paper, paint and ceramics.
Mica Powder
Wet- and dry-ground muscovite. Crack resistance, barrier and sheen in coatings.
Calcite / Ground Calcium Carbonate
High-brightness GCC. The cheapest way to add volume without losing whiteness.
Barytes (Barite)
High specific gravity barium sulphate. Drilling mud weighting and sound-deadening fillers.
Wollastonite
Acicular calcium metasilicate. Reinforcement without asbestos, in plastics and ceramics.
Every one of these has its own page with the grade ladder, the typical chemistry and the physical properties. If you already know the mineral and need the numbers, go straight there.
What we will ask you
- Which resin system and solids level
- The oil absorption and brightness you work to
- Current extender and its supplier data sheet
- Monthly tonnage and delivery ZIP
Four answers are enough for a quote and a sample. We do not need a meeting first.
What you get back
- A delivered price per tonne or per pound to your ZIP code, not an FOB India number you have to convert
- A free sample of the grade we recommend, shipped from the United States
- The typical analysis and, with the sample, the actual mill test certificate for that lot
- A safety data sheet in US format before the material arrives
- A lead time you can plan a production run around
Working in paint & coatings?
Tell us the application and the tonnage. Quote and free sample back within one business day.