Kaolin in the Paper Industry - Focus on the Asian Region

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1032[6/17/2010 9:02:25 AM]

Grade Key Characteristics Comment

Filler grades BrightnessParticle size distribution

This is a low cost grade competing withcarbonate and talc. The market is dominated byvariable quality product from Indonesia. A highbrightness, low cost kaolin with good brightnesscould appeal to Japanese papermills.

Delaminated BrightnessAspect ratio, surfacearea and to a lesserextent particle sizedistribution

Delaminated kaolins not widely used in Asiacurrently, however, good growth prospects asthis product is used in the fastest growingsegment, lightly coated paper. Trend is to useNo 2 grade kaolin. Brazilian producers havedeveloped high brightness, low viscosityproducts in this sector and are making inroads.

Calcined BrightnessOpacifying power

Highest value clay due to high energy (calciner)required in production, low bulk andconsequently high shipping costs. The marketfor calcined continues to grow as whitenessstandards are driven ever higher by competitivepressures including use in newsprint grades.

No 1 Coating BrightnessParticle size distributionViscosity

High brightness is the key feature and istypically >90 %GE with recent developmentsraising limits to 91% GE. Particle sizedistribution can be quite fine (98%<2µm) tocoarse (85%<2µm) although the mid range andfine grades are dominant.

No 2 Coating Medium brightnessParticle size distributionViscosity

The brightness range is 2-3 points below No 1grades. The dominant grades are at the coarseend and the fine end. Some overlap withdelaminated grades has occurred with thecoarser grades.