GRANUTEC® vermiculite

EVOLMAT MINERALS supplies VERMICULITE in the following forms:

• 100-litre bags, up to 1,200 bags per lorry
• 1,400-litre big bags on shrink-wrapped pallets

EVOLMAT MINERALS sells vermiculite under the GRANUTEC® brand.

Passive fire protection products

GRANUTEC® vermiculite is particularly well suited to fire protection, especially in the petrochemical industry and tunnel construction. Numerous official tests have confirmed the fire resistance of vermiculite-based products, ranging from prefabricated slabs and panels to fire-resistant doors, mixed plasters and renders, which can be applied by hand or by spraying…

Lightweight and insulating concrete

GRANUTEC® vermiculite, when mixed with Portland cement and water (and possibly also a resin if necessary) in proportions that vary according to the desired strength and insulation properties, produces a concrete that is lightweight, insulating and fire-resistant. This type of concrete is used for roof and floor coverings, as well as in the manufacture of precast products. It is easy to mix and apply, either by hand or using mechanical equipment.

Thermal and acoustic insulation

GRANUTEC® vermiculite can be used as a loose-fill insulation material, in place of conventional insulants such as glass wool, in block walls, doors, prefabricated or existing partitions, or as loose-fill insulation in lofts and floors. Its flow properties make it very easy to install, whilst its insulating capabilities significantly reduce

Absorbent – packaging

GRANUTEC® Vermiculite, a practical packaging material (lightweight, clean, non-combustible, inorganic) that easily fills the space around irregular shapes, providing good shock absorption for fragile and/or sensitive goods requiring protection, such as hazardous chemicals, whilst also helping to prevent accidental spills of varying sizes thanks to its high absorbency.

GRANUTEC® vermiculite can retain up to 450 per cent of its weight in water and is also ideal for storing fruit, bulbs and tubers.

Plaster

GRANUTEC® vermiculite, when added to gypsum or Portland cement, produces plasters that can be applied by hand or sprayed on, offering advantages over conventional plasters:

• lower weight
• better thermal insulation
• better adhesion to a wide range of substrates
• excellent fire resistance
• protection against condensation

Steelworks – Foundries

GRANUTEC® vermiculite, thanks to its intrinsic qualities (good thermal insulation, low density, natural refractory properties), combined with its ease of application, is an ideal covering for molten metal, reducing heat loss in ladles, distributors or ingot moulds.

Friction Linings – Refractory Products

GRANUTEC® vermiculite, which poses no risk whatsoever to brake or clutch linings, is widely used, in combination with other minerals, as a substitute for asbestos.

GRANUTEC® vermiculite, bonded with alumina cements, refractory clays and silicates, can be used to produce a wide range of products withstanding temperatures of up to 1100°C on the hot side: bricks, insulating concrete, alumina-bonded bricks, slabs and special shapes, silicate-bonded insulating mouldings, moulded products, moulds and blocks.

Animal Nutrition

GRANUTEC® vermiculite – free-flowing, sterile, non-irritating, non-toxic and absorbent – is the ideal carrier for a wide range of nutrients such as concentrated fat, vitamin preparations and molasses. Its high volumetric yield and high liquid retention, combined with ease of handling, make it very easy to mix with other materials.

• Anti-caking and anti-agglomerating agent.
• Carrier for finely ground dry materials.
• Inert carrier for medical products and nutrient solutions.
• Calorific value regulator.

Soil improvement

GRANUTEC® vermiculite helps to improve or correct soil deficiencies (e.g. lightening clay soil), whilst retaining moisture and nutrients to nourish roots, shoots and seeds, ensuring rapid and maximum growth. It acts as a carrier and release agent for fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides.

GRANUTEC® vermiculite possesses remarkable cation exchange properties and can supply plants with ammonium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Horticulture – Hydroponics

GRANUTEC® vermiculite is the ideal growing medium for stimulating root growth and the production of young plants in sand, peat and infertile soil, as well as for regulating or controlling changes in temperature and humidity. Commonly used in compost: it aids aeration, improves moisture retention and promotes the continuous release of incorporated fertilisers.

GRANUTEC® vermiculite is a standard growing medium for hydroponics.

Vermiculite is recognised for its excellent fire resistance, its thermal and acoustic insulation properties, its absorbency, and its high cation exchange capacity (CEC).

Vermiculite is non-combustible and can be used at temperatures not exceeding 1100°C, hence its high fire resistance.

pH value

According to the literature, the pH value of vermiculite is 7. However, measuring the pH of vermiculite in aqueous solution causes the carbonates associated with impurities in the rock to be converted into alkali oxides and hydroxides, resulting in an increase in the solution’s pH.

Absorption capacity

All grades of expanded vermiculite are capable of absorbing liquids into the interlamellar voids of each individual particle, as well as between particles. Consequently, the absorption capacity of vermiculite varies depending on the grade.

Other characteristics

Vermiculite is safe to handle, non-abrasive, reflective, non-perishable, odourless, non-irritating and mouldable; it does not cause disease, is non-toxic, absorbs large quantities of nutrients, has good air retention capacity, does not deteriorate during storage, and insulates and minimises fluctuations in soil temperature.

Asbestos-Free

This is verified by an accredited laboratory, which issues a Certificate of Asbestos-Free Status, available on request.