Heart of beauty in everyone. Among many skincare products, kaolin clay has prominent benefits in skin beauty. New uses are constantly discovered, ensuring the long-term demand for kaolin powder.
This blog will introduce you to what is kaolin, the best way and equipment for grinding kaolin, to meet the market needs for ultra-fine kaolin powder.
What is kaolin clay?
Together with mica, quartz, and calcium carbonate, kaolin is called the 4 major non-metallic minerals. It is a white clay composed of aluminum silicate, also known as white clay or China clay because of its white and delicate appearance.
Properties of kaolin clay
- Formula: Al2Si2O5(OH)4
- Mohs hardness: 2-2.5, relatively soft
- Chemical classification: Layered silicate minerals
- Composition: 39.8% Alumina, 46.3% Silica, 13.9% Water
- Common impurities: Iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, titanium, calcium, water
Kaolin is mainly composed of kaolinite clay minerals, with a content of more than 90%, as well as minerals such as montmorillonite, feldspar, halloysite, and quartz.
Kaolinite clay color is mainly white, and the highest whiteness can reach more than 95%. However, kaolin color also varies slightly with the metal content, showing rose red, brownish yellow, light blue, light green, light brown, light yellow, and so on.
Kaolin clay grinding process
Various industrial fields have different particle size requirements for kaolin clay, which promotes the development of grinding machines in the kaolin milling industry. The following is the flow of the kaolin grinding process:
- 1Crushing: Kaolinite is sent to the jaw crusher and crushed to the feed fineness (15mm-30mm) that can enter the mill.
- 2Grinding: The crushed kaolin is sent to the storage hopper through the elevator, and sent to the mill by the feeder for grinding.
- 3Grading: The ground materials are graded by the classifier, and the unqualified powder is returned to the main machine for regrinding.
- 4Collection: The powder that meets the fineness will enter the powder collection system through the pipeline with the airflow for collection. The finished powder is sent to the finished product warehouse.
From the perspective of the kaolin industry, the higher fineness of the finished products processed by the kaolin factory, the higher the economic value. Therefore, the milling stage is the key. How to choose the best kaolin mill?
The 3 types of mills recommended
Different kaolin grinding mills have different application areas. Customers can freely choose the best grinder according to the fineness and output of kaolin products.
| Equipment | Raymond mill | Ultrafine mill | Ball Mill |
| Principle | Coordination of roller mill and grinding ring | Combines crushing, grading, and pressurization | Utilizes repeated rolling of steel balls |
| Price | Low | Low | High |
| Yield | Normal | Normal | Large |
| Fineness | Fine powder | Ultrafine powder | Coarse powder |
| Footprint | Small | Small | Big |
| Recommended Index | ★★ | ★★★ | ★ |
Kaolin mills you are concerned about
According to the characteristics of kaolin and combined with years of experience, Ftmmachinery will introduce 3 kinds of grinding machines in detail.
1. Raymond Mill Get Latest Price
Kaolin Raymond mill has been popular in various milling industries. It is used for kaolin deep processing to meet the needs of suppliers.
Features:
- Price: $3,219 / set (the lowest price)
- Maximum feed size: ≤30mm
- Production capacity: 0.6-78t/h
- Finished fineness: 80-325 mesh
What we can do:
- 1Relatively small footprint. Vertical structure, solid system, and stable performance.
- 2Durable. The grinding roller and grinding ring have a long renewal cycle and long service life.
- 3Less one-time investment. Lower price, lower power consumption, higher efficiency, and higher yield.
- 4Operation workshop cleaning. The air separation airflow is circulated in the fan, with less dust and less environmental pollution.
- 5High degree of automation. Centralized control of the electrical system, unmanned operation, and maintenance can be realized basically.
2. Ultrafine mill Get Latest Price
Kaolin ultrafine mill is a kind of fine grinding equipment with a more scientific and reasonable process. It is used for the efficient processing of ultrafine kaolin powder.
Features:
- Price: $2,000 / set (the lowest price)
- Maximum feed size: ≤40mm
- Production capacity: 0.8-25t/h
- Finished product fineness: 60-800 mesh
What we can do:
- 1High grinding separation rate. Ultrafine mill has low energy consumption and high grinding efficiency.
- 2Well-finished product fineness. It is new energy-saving processing equipment.
- 3Automation. Using PLC automatic control, remote control, more intelligent.
- 4Low cost. Equipment civil construction costs are low, which can save investment costs.
- 5Easy to maintain. Grinding rollers and grinding rings are made of special materials for easy maintenance.
- 6Good environmental protection. The efficiency of the dust removal system is as high as 99%, and clean production is implemented.
3. Ball mill Get Latest Price
The kaolin ball mill grinds kaolinite minerals into fine powder.
Features:
- Price: $5,000 / set (minimum price)
- Maximum feed size: ≤25mm
- Production capacity: 0.65-615t/h
- Finished product fineness: 35-200 mesh
What we can do:
- 1Two different grinding methods are available: dry grinding and wet grinding.
- 2Strong adaptability to materials. It can be freely selected according to the use of the ground kaolin.
- 3Large processing capacity. It can be produced continuously, and it is easy to adjust the fineness of grinding products.
- 4Easy to install. The whole machine adopts a whole frame, which can adapt to a variety of harsh environments.
- 5Simple maintenance. The equipment reduces the shutdown and maintenance time.
Auxiliary equipment
1. Bucket elevator Get Latest Price
A bucket elevator is a kind of conveying machine, which lifts the crushed kaolin to the grinding mill, and works smoothly.
Features:
- Price: $1,000 / set (the lowest price)
- Lifting height: 25-40m
- Conveying capacity: 7-500m³/h
- Power: 3-132kw
2. Vibrating feeder Get Latest Price
The vibrating feeder is a uniform feeding device that supplies kaolin materials to crushing equipment, bucket elevator, and grinder.
Features:
- Price: $1,000 / set (the lowest price)
- Maximum feed size: 300-1200mm
- Production capacity: 80-1500t/h
3. Rotary drum dryer Get Latest Price
If kaolin clay is wet ground or calcined, a dryer is essential to reduce the kaolin moisture to less.
Features:
- Price: $1,000 / set (the lowest price)
- Production capacity: 1.9-76t/h
- Power: 7.5-160kw
Powerful benefits of kaolin clay powder
At present, kaolin clay has become a necessary raw material for papermaking, ceramics, chemical, and other industries. Kaolin clay powder has powerful benefits, adding brightness, smoothness, and gloss to products.
Benefit 1: Kaolin clay for skin
Kaolin clay powder is considered the mildest clay and is great for dry skin and hair.
It can be made into cosmetics for skin whitening and care, and as a cleanser to prevent acne and absorb excess oil.
Benefit 2: Kaolin clay for ceramics
Kaolin is similar to porcelain clay and can also be used to make pottery.
With high melting temperature and white properties, kaolin is especially suitable for the manufacture of white pottery, craft ceramics, and refractory materials.
Benefit 3: Kaolin clay for papermaking
Kaolin clay powder is used in papermaking, giving the paper good coverage and coating gloss.
It can greatly improve the whiteness and smoothness of the paper, and greatly improve the quality of the paper.
Benefit 4: Kaolin clay for gardening
In gardening, organic kaolin clay powder is used to protect against plant pests and diseases.
It also prevents sunburn or heat stress and enhances the color of the fruit.
Benefit 5: Kaolin clay for soap
As a soap additive, kaolin clay powder is used to fix the smell and mild the skin.
It improves the opacity and whiteness of soaps and effectively removes dust and dirt from washing objects.
Benefit 6: Kaolin clay for paint or coating
White kaolin clay is used to make paints or coatings.
It is essential for enhancing the brightness of pigments and controlling the dispersion of textures.
The potential value of kaolin has been continuously explored. It has become a high-quality raw material for the development and construction of the national economy, bringing benefits to product manufacturers.
