kyanite as a raw material additive for refractory and ceramic bodies.

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS (wt %)

Al2O3 -54.0 - 60.0
SiO2 -39.0 - 42.0
TiO2 -0.5 - 1.6
Fe2O3 -0.42 - 1.5
CaO <0.04
MgO <0.04
Na2O <0.04
K2O <0.07
P2O5 <0.02

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

SPECIFIC GRAVITY 3.2-3.6
HARDNESS 4.0 to7.4 Mohrs Scale
PARTICLE SHAPE Finger-Crystal
COLOR Yellow Gray

Our Kyanite is an industrial mineral concentrate that contains 54%-60% alumina by weight. Our product is sold in powder form – material 100 to 325 mesh (45 micron).

Application/Uses

Foundry

Kyanite both used extensively in both ferrous and non-ferrous foundries. Our products are utilized as high temperature sands in forming casting molds. In addition, our finer mesh products (200 and 325 mesh) are a critical ingredient in many mold sprays – where they are used to facilitate the removal of the metal casting from the mold.

Refractory Industry

The Refractory industry currently consumes the majority kyanite. Refractories are heat-resistant materials that constitute the linings for high-temperature furnaces and reactors and must be able to withstand physical wear and corrosion by chemical agents. Our products are used in almost every type of end product manufactured by refractory producers – from fired shapes and bricks to mortars and other monolithic products. Raw kyanite is used to assist in the firing (or fire in) of most refractories because its large and irreversible thermal expansion helps to counteract the normal shrinkage inherent in most other refractory raw materials. In addition, its conversion to mullite imparts a high level of refractoriness, thermal shock resistance, and hot strength to products made from it. Finally, our products enhance creep and corrosion resistance, and provide high temperature volume stability

Precision Investment Castings

kyanite is widely used in the manufacture of investment casting molds because it is stable at high temperatures, has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, and is friable to an extent that allows the cast piece to be easily removed with high pressure
water or sand blasting. In this regard, our product is instrumental in the manufacture of numerous consumer and industrial products: turbine blades for jet engines, golf club heads, false teeth, and automobile engines blocks – just to name a few.