AKJ MINCHEM PRIVATE LIMITED

Sukher, Surguja, Rajasthan

Quartz is a chemical compound consisting of one part silicon and two parts oxygen. It is silicon dioxide (SiO₂). It is the most abundant mineral found at Earth's surface and its unique properties make it one of the most useful natural substances. Quartz is the second most common mineral in the Earth's continental crust. It is made up of a lattice of silica (SiO₂) tetrahedra. Quartz goes by an array of different names. The most important distinction between types of quartz is that of macrocrystalline (individual crystals visible to the unaided eye) and the microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline varieties (aggregates of crystals visible only under high magnification). Its usefulness can be linked to its physical and chemical properties. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs' Scale which makes it very durable. It is chemically inert in contact with most substances. It has electrical properties and heat resistance that make it valuable in electronic products. Its luster, color and diaphaneity make it useful as a gemstone and also in the making of glass. Industrial

Applications :

• Glass Making : High purity silica sand (Quartz sand)is used in the glassmaking industry. Quartz sand is used in the production of container glass, flat plate glass, specialty glass and fiberglass.

• Abrasive Material : Quartz is an excellent abrasive material. Quartz sands and finely ground silica sand are used for sand blasting, scouring cleansers, grinding media, and grit for sanding and sawing.

• Foundry Sand : Quartz is very resistant to both chemicals and heat. With a melting temperature higher than most metals it can be used for the molds and cores of common foundry work. Refractory brick are often made of quartz sand because of its high heat resistance. Quartz sand is also used as a flux in the smelting of metals.

• Petroleum Industry : Quartz sand has a high resistance to being crushed. In the petroleum industry sand slurries are forced down oil and gas wells under very high pressures in a process known as hydraulic fracturing. This high pressure fractures the reservoir rocks and the sandy slurry injects into the fractures. The durable sand grains hold the fractures open after the pressure is released. These open fractures facilitate the flow of natural gas into the well bore.

• Many Other Quartz Uses : Quartz sand is used as a filler in the manufacture of rubber, paint and putty. Screened and washed, carefully sized quartz grains are used as filter media and roofing granules. Quartz sands are used for traction in the railroad and mining industries. These sands are also used in recreation on golf courses, volleyball courts, baseball fields, children's sand boxes and beaches.

Talc is the softest mineral (occupying place 1 in the Mohs` hardness scale) known on our planet earth. It is lamellar, platy, organophilic, water repellent with special thermal and mechanical properties. It has a high capacity for absorbing organic substances. It is also acid & alkali-resistant, chemically inert and non-toxic. Talc has neither aroma nor taste. This makes it a very essential mineral in our day-to-day life. Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate [chemical formula is Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂. Also known as Steatite. It is the main component of soapstone. Its crystals usually develop massive, leafy aggregates with laminar particles. Its silicate layers lie on top of one another without having a chemical bond but are bound to each other by weak Vander Waals forces. This structure gives talc the platy appearance and its characteristic greasy or soapy feeling hence the name soapstone. Industrial

Applications:

• Paper : Gives smoothness, brightness to paper & partially replaces TiO₂. Also acts as pitch absorber.
• Paints : Highly recommended for wood finishes, primers, putties, undercoateds, architectural finishes, water based coatings. Its laminar structure helps in better corrosion protection and also improves exterior durability of paints. Recommended for expoxy and exterior paints.
• Ceramics : Talc improves resistance to thermal shocks and gives superior electrical properties. It gives greater toughness to speak plugs and switch boards. It also improves dry pressing resistance of ceramic bodies.
• Foundries : Used in mould making and for final finish.
• Plastic & Rubber : Used in variety of application as filler.
• Cosmetics : Super fine talc powder is used in cosmetic for its smooth silky finish. Apart from above grades we develop tailor made talc to meet the specific requirement of our clients. Our R&D is also working on ultra-fine Talc powders to develop many new products with exciting possibilities.