Industrial Applications
Where Calcium Carbonate Works
Calcium carbonate is one of the most widely used industrial minerals. The right grade depends on your formulation.
Applications are indicative. Suitability for any use is confirmed only after checking the customer’s technical requirements.
01
Plastic Industry
Used as a functional filler to adjust stiffness, processing and cost in polyolefin compounds and masterbatch.
Grades typically considered
Fine and ultra-fine grades; coated grades where compatibility matters.
02
PVC Industry
Used in pipes, profiles and fittings to contribute to rigidity, surface finish and formulation economy.
Grades typically considered
Typically 2 – 45 µm; coated grades are common.
03
Paints and Coatings
Used as an extender pigment that supports opacity with TiO₂, film properties and cost control.
Grades typically considered
Whiteness and fineness are key; 5 – 45 µm is common.
04
Rubber Industry
Used as a filler in rubber compounds to adjust hardness, processing and cost.
Grades typically considered
Fine grades; coated grades may improve dispersion.
05
Adhesives and Sealants
Used to control rheology, body and cost in sealants, putties and adhesives.
Grades typically considered
Fine to ultra-fine grades; moisture is critical.
06
Construction Materials
Used in dry-mix mortars, tile adhesives, wall putty and renders, and as limestone aggregate.
Grades typically considered
Coarse powders and crushed sizes.
07
Paper Industry
Used as a filler and coating pigment to support brightness and printability.
Grades typically considered
Requires high whiteness and controlled fineness.
08
Ceramic Industry
Used as a calcium source in bodies and glazes.
Grades typically considered
Chemical consistency (CaCO₃, Fe₂O₃) is key.
09
Other Mineral Applications
Glass, cement, iron and steel, petroleum and other industrial uses. Pharmaceutical, cosmetic and feed uses require grades that meet the applicable regulations.
Grades typically considered
Defined case by case with the customer.
Size & Industry Guide
Which size goes into which industry
Typical market ranges for limestone, calcium carbonate and lime. Each customer’s own specification always governs.
By industry – accepted sizes
| Industry | Typical accepted sizes | Matching Nefertiti products |
|---|---|---|
| Lime kilns (quicklime production) | 20 – 150 mm lumps; rotary kilns ~10 – 50 mm, shaft kilns ~40 – 150 mm | Crushed limestone 20 – 50, 40 – 60, 50 – 150 mm |
| Cement | 0 – 50 mm crusher product to the raw mill; fine limestone as an additive | 0 – 150 mm, 20 – 50 mm, milled powder |
| Iron & steel | Sinter flux 0 – 5 mm; blast-furnace flux 20 – 60 mm; quicklime lumps for steelmaking | 0 – 5 mm, 20 – 40 / 40 – 60 mm, CaO |
| Glass | Granules 100 µm – 1 mm with low iron content | Granules 0.1 – 1 mm, Fine (Zero) 0 – 250 µm |
| Ceramics | Bodies 45 – 75 µm; glazes 10 – 45 µm | 75, 45, 30, 20 µm |
| Concrete & road construction | Aggregates 5 – 10, 10 – 20, 20 – 40 mm; sand 0 – 5 mm; road base 0 – 40 mm | Secondary crushed sizes |
| Asphalt | Mineral filler below 75 µm; aggregates 5 – 20 mm; hydrated lime as anti-stripping additive | 75 / 45 µm, 5 – 10 / 10 – 20 mm, Ca(OH)₂ |
| Dry mortars, tile adhesives & renders | Fillers 0.1 – 1 mm and powders 45 – 250 µm | 150, 100, 75, 45 µm, granules |
| Wall putty | 20 – 75 µm | 75, 45, 30, 20 µm |
| Paints & coatings | 2 – 45 µm (economy ~45 µm; quality paints 5 – 10 µm) | 45 → 2 µm |
| PVC pipes & fittings | 5 – 20 µm, often coated | 20, 15, 10, 5 µm |
| PVC profiles & cables | 1 – 5 µm, coated | Coated 5, 2, 1 µm (to be confirmed) |
| Plastics & filler masterbatch | 1 – 15 µm, usually coated; films need a low top cut (D97 ≈ 10 µm or less) | Coated 15 → 1 µm (to be confirmed) |
| Rubber | 2 – 20 µm | 20 → 2 µm |
| Adhesives & sealants | 1 – 20 µm with low moisture | 20 → 1 µm |
| Paper | Filler 1 – 5 µm; coating below 2 µm | 5, 2, 1 µm (to be confirmed) |
| Animal feed & poultry | Powder 75 – 250 µm; poultry grit 2 – 4 mm | Fine (Zero), milled powder, grits – feed-grade compliance required |
| Agriculture (soil liming) | 0 – 2 mm; finer material reacts faster | 0 – 5 mm fines, powders |
| Flue gas desulphurisation | About 90% passing 45 µm | 45, 30, 20 µm |
| Oil & gas drilling fluids | Graded 5 µm – 2 mm (acid-soluble bridging and weighting) | Powders and granules (to be confirmed) |
| Pharmaceuticals, food & cosmetics | High-purity regulated grades, typically 5 – 45 µm | Subject to regulatory grade confirmation |
| Water & wastewater treatment | Hydrated lime powder; quicklime pebble 0 – 10 mm | Ca(OH)₂, CaO |
By size – where it is used
| Size / grade | Industries |
|---|---|
| 50 – 150 mm | Lime kilns (shaft / PFR), blast-furnace flux |
| 20 – 50 / 40 – 60 mm | Lime kilns, blast-furnace flux, cement feed, gabions |
| 10 – 20 / 20 – 40 mm | Concrete aggregate, road base, rotary lime kilns |
| 5 – 10 mm | Concrete products, asphalt, decorative stone |
| Grits 2 – 5 mm | Poultry grit, terrazzo & decorative, agriculture |
| Sand & fines 0 – 5 mm | Sinter flux, mortars & blocks, asphalt, agriculture, grinding feed |
| Granules 0.1 – 1 mm | Glass, dry mortars, animal feed, drilling fluids |
| Powders 250 – 75 µm | Animal feed, ceramics, construction chemicals, agriculture |
| Powders 45 – 30 µm | Wall putty, ceramics, economy paints, FGD, rubber |
| Powders 20 – 10 µm | Paints, PVC pipes, rubber, sealants, cosmetics |
| Powders 8 – 1 µm | Masterbatch & films, PVC profiles, paper, high-grade coatings |
Ranges are indicative industry practice, not guaranteed outputs. Availability of each size is confirmed per order.
Not sure which grade fits?
Describe your application and we will recommend grades to evaluate.