What Is Calcium Carbonate Used For？

Calcium carbonate is mainly used as a filler for paper in papermaking. In order to ensure the strength and whiteness of the paper and at the same time reduce production costs, a large amount of calcium carbonate is added to the paper.

The massive calcium carbonate uses in the paper industry is based on the international shift of the paper industry from acidic to alkaline or neutral papermaking processes. Calcium carbonate used as paper filler has several advantages: high opacity and gloss; uniform particle size; and strong color retention.

In coatings, calcium carbonate acts as a white pigment and acts as a skeleton. Because calcium carbonate is white, its price is relatively cheap compared with latex and solvent, and its particles are finer and can be evenly dispersed in paint, so it can be used as an extender pigment in paint.

The filling of calcium carbonate can enhance the deposition and permeability of the primer to the base surface. In paste paint, calcium carbonate can thicken the paint and play the role of filling and leveling.

Calcium carbonate is widely used in filling resins such as polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polyethylene(PE), and polypropylene(PP). Adding calcium carbonate has a certain effect on improving some properties of plastic products to expand their application range.

Its advantages are as follows:

Improve the dimensional stability of plastic products; Increase its hardness; Improve the surface gloss and smoothness of plastic products; Improve heat resistance of products; Improve the astigmatism of plastic products; Calcium carbonate with higher whiteness can also replace expensive white pigments; Reduce the production costs and increase profitability.

Calcium carbonate is one of the earliest and most widely used fillers in the rubber industry. A large amount of calcium carbonate is filled in rubber, which can increase the volume of its products and save expensive natural rubber or synthetic rubber, thereby greatly reducing costs. Calcium carbonate is filled into rubber to obtain higher tensile strength, tear strength and abrasion resistance than pure rubber vulcanizates.

Binders and sealants are one of the most important industries in the field of fine chemicals, and their applications almost involve all industrial sectors. The surface-modified calcium carbonate has the advantages of narrow particle size distribution, large specific surface area, low oil and water absorption, etc.

In developed countries, nano calcium carbonate has become the main raw material for reactive adhesives, hot-melt adhesives, neoprene adhesives, water-based adhesives and sealants. Under the premise of significantly reducing the cost, the adhesive performance of its products has been comprehensively improved.

Calcium carbonate is vital to the construction industry. It can be both as a building material (such as marble) and as a component of cement. It is used to make mortar used to bind bricks, concrete blocks, stones, rubber compounds and tiles. Calcium carbonate decomposes to form carbon dioxide and lime, which are important materials in the manufacture of steel, glass and paper. Due to its acid-resistant properties, calcium carbonate is used in industrial settings to neutralize the acidic conditions of soil and water.

Calcium carbonate is one of the important components of culture medium in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to providing Ca element, its function also plays a buffering role in the change of pH value during stable fermentation and culture. Therefore, calcium carbonate becomes a buffer for microbial fermentation in the pharmaceutical industry. In pharmaceutical tablets, it is generally used as a filler, and in acid-relieving tablets, it has a certain medicinal effect.

Calcium carbonate can be used as a food additive. It is advisable to add a small amount of calcium carbonate to food, usually no more than 2%, to ensure the intake of calcium necessary for the human body.

Under normal conditions, the total amount of calcium in the human body is about 1200 grams, of which 99% is found in bones and teeth, and 1% is an essential part of human blood, so it is also indispensable to add calcium carbonate to various food additives.