No machine or device is complete without plastic, rubber, and paint. Whether it is kitchen equipment, a toy, a car, or even an aircraft, these three materials are used in all of them. It could be about the upper body or internal components; the usage level in industries is extremely high. That is why you can not skip these materials when producing plastic and rubber components. From shine to toughness, many reasons exist to know what is behind these qualities.  The material behind those qualities and features of plastic, rubber, and paints is barium sulfate. Some people also call it barite crystal. The reason why manufacturers use them is what you will read in this blog. If you are a small-scale producer of plastic and rubber products, this information will be really handy for you. Then, you will find better composition in the production method in order to achieve the best results. Remember that buyers use only durable products, and durability comes when one uses high-quality Barite to produce plastic, rubber, and paints.  Chemical Formula and Density  If you are a manufacturer or a retailer, this is for you. It is crucial to know such details when using chemicals for production. Each detail matters, and this is why you must know that the chemical formula of Barite is BaSO4. This will save you from any confusion during the production process in a factory. This must be known since every composition must be sharp in producing paints, plastic, rubber, or any product.   On the other hand, you should be aware of the Barite’s nature. One of the things that needs to be known is that Barite is a heavy mineral. This is why barite density is 4.48 g/cm³, which is normally accepted in the industry. This is why it is also used in the construction drilling process. Its high density is the main reason. Moreover, the reason it is used in the production of plastic, rubber, and paints is its color range. You can usually find a barite color range in yellow, grey, light bluish, and brown shades.  Buyers might face barite price challenges if you are dealing in these industries. Its prices might vary depending on the country because few countries have an abundant supply. Also, the platform or website that supplies it may offer discounts via bulk supply. So, you can find  What is Barite Used for? Since we are discussing their prime use in producing paints, rubbers, and plastics, here are some main objectives why Barite is important.  1. As a Stiffener in Plastics and Rubbers People use some plastic and rubber goods that are soft and rigid. The rigidness comes from Barite. Without including it, manufacturers can not increase the hardness of these products. Since the density of barite minerals is high, it enhances the strength of plastic and rubber to show toughness. The stiffness comes in them when this material is added to the production. Then, the plastic and rubber products resist mild shocks and vibrations without risk of early breakage. Many auto parts and general plastic goods have ample toughness, which comes from Barite. 2. As a Pigments Strengthener  Ever wonder why paints stay pigmented for a long time? That is because of Barite’s presence in them. When added to the paints, pigments last long enough to show durability. They strengthen the bond between the molecules of paint to create long-lasting effects. Then, they do not become pale or lack shine for better shelf life. Pigments are the primary element in paints that we use. Without a good pigment level, paint could lose its value. So, Barite is a foundation to provide them with strength.  3. Anti-Aging Agent in Paints Paints tend to last for months and even for years without showing signs of aging. If they age, that means they are close to expiry. To keep them fresh and usable, manufacturers use Barite in production. This is why one of the Barite uses is to prevent the aging process in paints. Once added to the paints, the freshness remains in them for a long time. You will not find any risk of foul smell or aging in paints because of Barite. 4. Enhances Weather Resistance  Weather resistance is also very crucial in paints, plastics, and rubbers. Many products are used in open-air conditions where some or full exposure to environmental threats comes on them. This makes them vulnerable to damage, and manufacturers use Barite to enhance their resistance level. They extract raw Barite to bring the best quality of it. Then, it works well to strengthen paints against scratches and abrasions.  Abrasions are very common in plastic and rubber products, where they need some protection. This protection comes from adding Barite in the production process. Once it is added, the durability against many weather impacts increases. As a result, plastic, rubber, and paints survive long enough amid rough conditions. 5. Improves Texture of Paints and Plastics Smooth texture and appearance in paints and plastics come from Barite. Without adding it, one can not get such an impressive surface in them. That is why Barite is a key element when manufacturing these products. Many products that are made of plastic involve Barite in their production. The texture becomes smooth so that the paint can create a stable and flat surface. The coat of paint becomes stable because of this element when used to improve texture.  Final Words You can find a slight variance in the density of Barite in the market, but the standard one has been mentioned above. You will also see a little variance in the crystal shades, indicating the purity level. If you are purchasing it, choose the right supplier with competitive rates.

Barite is a versatile mineral used in various industries such as petroleum, chemicals, and metallurgy as a chemical agent and has more than 2000 uses. Barite is a non-metallic mineral that is composed of barium sulfate. Barite occurs naturally in sedimentary rocks. Barite has a highly dense mineral of 4.5g/cm3. The physical appearance of barite is white, yellow, or gray. Barite is a soft mineral with a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Being a dense material, barite is not soluble in water and ranks low in the solubility index, with low solubility in common chemical solvents.  Uses of Barite in the Industrial Sector Barite is an immensely useful mineral used in the production processes of a diverse range of industries. Let us take a brief look at the varied uses of barite.  Oil and Gas Industry In oil and gas extraction, barite is used as a weighting agent in drilling fluids to enhance the process. Barite’s high density curbs excessive pressure exerted by drilling fluid, and it also acts as a lubricant.  Medical Sector When it comes to medical imaging and diagnostics like X-ray and CT scans, Barite sulfate is given to patients orally so that the gastrointestinal tract can be seen more visibly in the scan. This results in a better diagnosis for stomach ailments like ulcers, etc. Paint Industry To increase the brightness of paints and make a paint less transparent since the Barite minerals bend light rays. The addition of barite during paint manufacture also increases the weather resistance of paints and makes the paint layer able to withstand harsh weather and rain.  Barite Extraction from Earth  Barite Mining The mining procedure of barite is relatively simple. Barite mining involves the open-pit mining method. However, deeper deposits of barium mean that underground mining is used to extract barite. This involves making tunnels to have access to barite deposits. Open pit mining consists of removing the upper layers of soil or rock and not digging tunnels.  Barite Processing  Barite is in its raw form and needs to be treated to become suitable for industrial application. In barite processing, the barite is purified. The barite is crushed into a powder and then undergoes a variety of processes in the barite processing plant to separate pure barite from other minerals. Let’s explore deeply about barium processing.  Barite crushing process: Preparing Barite for Treatment Barite is a relatively soft material that can be crushed quite easily. The machine tools involved in crushing are a jaw crusher and an impact crusher. In the initial stage, the jaw crusher activates and crushes huge barite rocks into smaller pieces. An impact crusher then works on the smaller-sized barite chunks to crush them further into fine powder.  Barite Separation and Screening The barite chunks are separated using a circular vibrating screen in the screening process. The separated barium is then sent to the cone crusher.  Barite Grinding Machine This is the central and most important barite processing operation. It involves a cone crusher, also known as a making machine. This specialized crusher consists of three modes of crushing: medium, fine, and ultra-fine. The sand-making machine is truly an engineering marvel. It is capable of crushing hard materials, so it applies sufficient force to crush barite effectively. The machine operation is eco-friendly, so barite crushing is environmentally friendly. Moreover, the plant has a large output and is a highly efficient machine.  Grades of Crushing Barite crushing consists of producing barite of three grades. A coarse powder has a particle size of 0-3mm, and fine powder processing has a particle size of 20 mesh to 400 mesh. And ultra-fine powder with a particle size of 400 mesh -1250 mesh. The ultra-fine powder is more like fine dust and is collected using a vacuum airflow. The fine powder is then sent into the finished product silo through a pipe. In the finished silo, the barite powder is packaged by a machine called an automatic baler.  Natural Barite Mineral Formation Barite is a common mineral of the earth’s crust. It is frequently seen as rock veins in limestone and dolostone rock surfaces. Carbonate rocks like these become worn out by harsh weather elements, and large barite deposits are found between the region where soil merges with the carbonate stone bedrock. Another source of barite is in sandstone and sand concretion. Such a combination of sand and sandstone is a perfect environment for barite crystallization. The barite mineral crystallizes between the holes in sand grains. Barite crystal deposits make lovely shapes in the sand. These structures are termed ‘barite roses.’ Barite is also found in hydrothermal veins. It is seen close to the veins of rarer metals like copper, lead, manganese, cobalt, and antimony.  Barite Beneficiation Process These include the following processes  Barite Manual Separation Manual separation is a convenient and inexpensive procedure. However, it can be time-consuming. The process is done after coarse crushing of top-grade barite ore.  Barite Gravity Separation  Separation is done through a jigging machine. In this type of separation, the selection is first graded through particle size. Gravity separation becomes challenging for barite complex ores containing intricately associated minerals and for barite ores characterized by fine mineral particle size and low raw ore grade. Achieving a high concentrate grade under these conditions is difficult through gravity separation alone. Consequently, additional separation methods, such as flotation, must be integrated to attain the desired outcome. Barite Flotation As barite ore resources deplete gradually, the ore composition becomes more complex, and the demand for high-grade and finely processed barite products intensifies in practical applications. Under these circumstances, conventional methods like gravity separation fail to meet the requirements. Consequently, flotation has emerged as the predominant technique for barite separation. Flotation not only plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges posed by complex ores in traditional beneficiation processes but is also frequently employed for purifying salt minerals. Within barite flotation, the interaction between collectors and barite minerals plays a pivotal role in determining the grade and recovery rate of barite concentrate.

Whether you are purchasing it or just curious about knowing better, this blog will simplify your search. Barite is one of those minerals used in our daily products. So, it is better to know about it. Where it is found, how it is extracted, and what are its properties, you will get all the answers below most simply.   What is Barite? Barite is a short form of barium sulfate, one of the minerals used in industries. It is the main source of barium, which you might have heard of. BaSO4 is the chemical formula of Barite, which is called barium sulfate. You might not have heard about it commonly since it is used in a few industries. Well, the time has come to read about it.  It is also known as Bologna stone when it radiates upon heating. It got its name, Bologna Stone, from its source when it was discovered in Bologna, Italy. When it was discovered, it was found that it is a heavy mineral, which is why its chemical name was derived from the Greek word "barys", which means heavy. Since it is a heavy mineral, Barite density is high, around 4.48 g/cm³. Depending on the purity level, its density could be a little more or less. It is among stable minerals, which is why they are used in various industries.  Basic properties and characteristics of Barite When you know about a mineral's physical and chemical properties, it becomes easy to understand its nature. Then, you can understand why plastic, rubber, and paper manufacturers use it. It has a vitreous luster and glassy appearance. This is a natural form where you can recognize it easily.  The properties of Barite are many, and both chemical and physical ones will be discussed here. We want you to get a better insight in the simplest way possible. Starting with color, the easiest way to recognize you will find it mostly in white or colorless. However, you can find versions of barite colors like grey, light bluish shades, yellow, and brown.  In terms of chemical properties, it is insoluble in solvents like water and acids like acetic, hydrochloric, citric, etc. It is insoluble in mostly solvents since it has low reactivity. That is why it is a stable mineral.  Geological Occurrences and Formations of Barite India, China, Kazakhstan, the United States, Pakistan, and Morocco are some of the top countries with high geological occurrence of barite ores. Their extraction process takes place on various sites in these countries. In physical appearance, they are found in hydrothermal veins and limestone veins.  The formation of Barite consists of a long process where multiple steps are taken.  Exploration and sampling process  First, the exploration process takes place through various modes like aerial scanning and geological pieces of evidence. Then, the sampling is done by confirming if the site has enough barite ores. Geologists conduct various tests and samples for that, so it takes a little time.  Site preparation and clearance of path After it is confirmed that the site has enough Barite, the site preparation process starts. It is about preparing the place for digging and processing at a large scale. The operation team clears the path for the extraction process so the nearby location can not be disturbed.  Extraction process Then, the extraction process takes place where the ores are extracted with the help of tools and machines. Moreover, underground and open-pit mining are two types of mining processes.   Underground or open-pit mining It depends on the amount of Barite and where it is found in high concentration. If it is underground, operators have to conduct a deep extraction process. If it is open-pit, the process can be less complicated than the first. The reason is the risk involved in the underground extraction process.  Grinding and filtration process Then comes the grinding process when the extraction process is complete. The grinding process is performed after the large rocks are taken out of the field. Workers have to grind them into chunks for the filtration of ores. Lots of additional stuff is removed to reach the core of the Barite.  Beneficiation process Then, the second last process takes place where the Barite is separated from its ore. It is a careful and sensitive part where geologists and laborers remove the impurities from the ore.  Moisture removal process and finalization Then, the last process comes when the Barite comes in full form. The last process is about the removal of moisture from it. The drying process takes out every possibility of moisture from it. Then, the packaging takes place for the delivery process.  Industrial Applications You might be wondering about the applications of Barite, and we provided some slight info in the beginning. They are used in oil and gas industries as a drilling fluid. It is for the prevention of blowouts during the drilling process, which is very common. It is used as a weighting agent, increasing the density for maximum suppression of blowout.  One of its types, white Barite, is used in the pigmentation process. Paper, paint, and plastic industries use it for color stability. It adds whiteness as well as strength to the pigmentation of the product. Not only that, it gives paint anti-aging features. This is why they last for a long time when they remain packed. It plays a crucial role as plastic and paint filler. It is used not only in these industries but also in the medical industry. It is used for medical imaging in the X-ray process. With the help of its high whiteness rate, it can be easily detected in X-ray vision.   Hopefully, you are well aware of Barite and its uses. If you purchase it wholesale, it will be better to test it for purity. You will realize its worth once you use it in your plastic, rubber, pain, or oil extraction process.