ڤرميكيوليت

ڤرميكيوليت Vermiculite
العامة
التصنيف	معدن
الصيغة; (repeating unit)	(MgFe,Al)3(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2·4H2O
النظام البلوري	Monoclinic
التعهد
Color	عسلي
Crystal habit	Clay, scaly, aggregate
Cleavage	مثالي
Fracture	Uneven
Mohs scale hardness	2-3
Luster	زجاجي
Streak	Pale yellow
الجاذبية النوعية	2.4-2.7
Refractive index	Translucent
Pleochroism	None

الڤرميكيوليت Vermiculite هومعدن طبيعي يتمدد عند تعرضه للحرارة. عملية التمدد تسمى exfoliation and it is routinely accomplished in purpose-designed commercial furnaces. Vermiculite is formed by hydration of certain basaltic minerals. Large commercial vermiculite mines currently exist in جنوب أفريقيا، الصين, البرازيل، الولايات المتحدة وعدة دول أخرى.

الاستعمالات التجارية

moulded shapes, bonded with sodium silicate for use in:
- عزل حراري عالي
- refractory insulation
- fireproofing of structural steel and pipes
soil conditioner
as loose-fill عازل
packing material, valued for its high absorbency
suitable as a substrate for various animals and/or incubation of eggs
lightweight aggregate for plaster, proprietary concrete compounds, firestop mortar and cementitious spray fireproofing
component of the interior fill for firestop pillows, along with graphite
carrier for dry handling and slow release of agricultural chemicals
soil additive for plants, together with perlite for potted plants
growing medium for hydroponics.
means to permit slow cooling of hot pieces in glassblowing, lampwork, steelwork, and glass beadmaking
used in in-ground swimming pools to provide a smooth pool base
used in commercial handwarmers
used as a sterile medium for the incubation of reptile eggs
light-weight insulative concrete [1]