Expanded-Perlite

Expanded perlite is a kind of natural acidic vitreous volcanic lava, non-metallic mineral, including perlite, pitch rock and obsidian, that are just different in crystal water content. Because its volume rapidly expands 4 to 30 times under the high temperature condition of 1000-1300 ℃, it is collectively called expanded perlite. Generally, the expansion ratio is required to be >7 to 10 times (obsidian >3 times, available), and the silica is about 70%. All are open pit mined. It can be used as filter, catalyst, molecular sieve and carrier of rubber, chemical fertilizer and pesticide. It is widely used in construction, metallurgy, petroleum, machinery, light industry, hydropower, foundry, medicine, food, agriculture, forestry and gardening etc. The expanded perlite is a white granular material that is extremely lightweight, the new structure gives it remarkable thermo-acoustic qualities. The countless micropores of dry air in the new structure makes the material behave as a very efficient natural insulator. The expanded perlite retains the original qualities of the natural mineral, it is chemically neutral, inert to atmospheric agents and the passage of time, non-combustible, non-toxic, insoluble and non-hygroscopic. That makes the perlite as an efficient natural insulation for the construction industry and agriculture.
As it is expanded after heating, the structural water contained in perlite will be gasified, which makes perlite become porous. Therefore, when perlite is used as soil improvement material, it can improve soil aeration and reduce soil weight. For agricultural plantation, expanded perlite is an excellent soil additive, helping on cation exchange. For horticulture,
expanded perlite helps to keep water and mineral substances well, acting as a requirement for plants growing.