Calcium carbonate in Indonesia with chemical formula CaCO3 is produced by sedimentation of the coral, fossilized snails, and small shells in more than millions of years. It commonly found in the natural forms as sedimentary rocks like chalk and limestone, also found as a metamorphic rock like marble. The differentation between chalk, limestone, and marble including purity, whiteness, thickness, and homogeneity.
Limestone is a biogenic rock and more compacted than chalk. It is a common sedimentary rock main composed by calcium carbonate mineral, calcite (CaCO3). Limestone also contains dolomite or calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO).. Larger part of limestone is formed by direct crystallization from seawater or accumulation of sea animal shells and shell fragments.from skeletal remains of sea creatures. Marble as metamorphic rock, is formed when chalk or limestone recrystallised with high temperature and pressure condition. Limestone and marble can be used as the basis or raw material for Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC).
Limestone mining process produces large aggregate boulders which are then as the selected raw material has to be crushed through a series of crushers. After that, this material sent through the milling process and then fine grinded. This process through several stages is to produce smaller limestone particles that form a powder, then collected and packaged. A powdery like form then classified precisely or graded by size and other physical properties and mechanical properties for many different industrial use to attain the products of exceptional consistent & desirable quality available in a variety of grades. CaCO3 is the principal mineral in GCC Three primary attributes are particle size, color, and chemical purity, define the quality and suitability of the GCC to use for any industry.
Elements like Mg, Fe, and Mn can substitute for calcium and change its hardness, specific gravity, and optical properties. The favorable properties of GCC include high whiteness and brightness, low hardness, and outstanding rheology in water systems. GCC is used in paper, plastic, paints and coatings, rubber, adhesives, caulks and sealants industries.
High brightness and light scattering characteristics from GCC are used In the paper industry GCC is also used as an inexpensive filler to make bright opaque paper. Through at the wet-end of paper making machines, calcium carbonate filler allows for the paper to be bright and smooth.
Since plastics on a pound-volume basis are more expensive than the filler, GCC is used to reduce cost as filler. It is used because of its low resin demand, especially important in glass-reinforced thermoset polyesters. In plastics industry, GCC has good whiteness, improves impact strength, aids in processing, and acts as a heat sink in exothermic curing systems.
In paints and coatings industries, calcium carbonate is used as a filler and as a coating pigment due to its special white color. As an extender, calcium carbonate can represent as much as 30% by weight in paints. GCC is also used widely as a filler in adhesives, caulks, and sealants.
GCC is important to the construction industry, used in the manufacturing of roofing, flooring, and other building materials. It is also used as an ingredient of cement, converted to quick-lime (calcium oxide) and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). It is often used to increase durability and reduce costs by displacing or extending other raw materials that are more expensive. It is the ideal raw material as it has low absorption qualities, consistent particle size distribution and color.
Other contribution of GCC, is to the making of mortar used in bonding bricks, concrete blocks, stones, roofing shingles, rubber compounds, and tiles. GCC also decomposes to form carbon dioxide and lime, an important material in making steel and glass.
GCC can also be used for waste treatment, grinding aids, animal feed, and more. GCC is the active ingredient in agricultural lime and animal feed. It is slightly basic in agricultural lime because it can be used to neutralize combustion vapors or increase the pH in water or soils. Calcium carbonate also benefits the environment through water and waste treatment because of its antacid properties. GCC can be used in industrial settings to neutralize acidic conditions in both soil and water.