Perlite is a powerful tool for insulation, gardening, and more. It is lightweight, sterile, and white. It looks and feels a little like polystyrene. However, it is made from expanded volcanic glass and heated to 1000 degrees Celsius. These, when heated, pop like popcorn and expand many times to their original size.
Perlites are extremely porous. This makes it easier for them to absorb moisture and improve drainage. They are quite useful in plant distribution, including cuttings and sowing seeds.
In this blog, we have covered one of the most asked questions – how perlite is made? But, to understand how perlite is made, let’s understand the origin of perlite.
The Making of Perlite: Step-by-Step Process
When lava leaves a volcano and reaches close to the Earth’s surface, it cools down swiftly. This looks like crystals, producing a material akin to glass. It is said that the cooled-down lava may retain a charge, which attracts water molecules when exposed to moisture in the environment.
With a 2-5% moisture content, its high glass content gives perlite its ability to soften and expand rapidly when heated.
Mining and Extraction
Perlites are easy to mine and extract. First, the site is cleared of all vegetation and topsoil to have clear access to perlite ore. Then the process of drilling and blasting takes place. After extraction, these ores are sent to the processing plant.
Processing Perlite
At the processing plant, perlite ore undergo through a sequence of procedures to refine them even more. First, the size of the ores is reduced to remove excess water content. Then, they are sorted into various grades and ores.
Quality Check
Next, perlite ores are crushed which undergo inspection to ensure quality and cleanliness. This process also ensures the product is free of contamination. Then, the crushed perlites are preheated in a drying oven or a hot air system to remove moisture.
You can also read: What is Perlite Insulation?
Expansion Process
This is one of the most important steps in the production process of perlite. After careful inspection, they are fed into controlled-temperature furnaces (somewhat between 850 degrees to 1000 degrees Celsius), where they expand. After expansion, they are cooled down and sorted, graded, and packed again.
Perlite is a versatile material, used in several applications. You can buy high-quality perlite ores from top manufacturers and suppliers of perlite, such as Amol Minechem Limited. Some of the products they offer are perlite filteraid, construction perlite, thermal insulation perlite, and many more.