Hectalite GM

Description: Dry processed calcium hectorite

Oxide	Analysis	Formula
CaO	12.10%	0.26
Fe2O3	1.23%	0.01
MgO	20.70%	0.63
Al2O3	1.61%	0.02
SiO2	60.95%	1.23
Na2O	2.80%	0.05
Li2O	1.29%	0.05
K2O	0.33%	-
LOI	8.50%	n/a
Oxide Weight		122.99
Formula Weight		134.42

Notes

Used as a binder and plasticizer, especially in ceramic bodies, to ease extrusion and increase green strength with minimal viscosity increase.
It is a plastic magnesium-rich sodium hectorite clay of microfine particles (it is a refined version of the same material from which HPM20 and Volclay bentonite are made). One gram of the material has a surface area greater than 750 sq. meters!

Hectalite is available in grades 200 and GM, they have the same chemistry and other physical data except:
-Hectalite 200 has a viscosity of 2000-5000 cps @ 5% solids whereas GM is 50 cps.
-GM has a slightly lower pH of 8-10 whereas 200 is 9-11.
Hectalite 200 is intended for rheology control (stabilizing, gelling, suspending and binding household products, aerosols, paints, enamels and ceramic slurries) whereas GM is intended for binding and plasticizing in ceramic bodies.

The high MgO, CaO, low Al₂O₃ and the presence of Li₂O give this material a chemistry that is unlike other typical fine particled clays.

Brightness: 70 minimum
Density: 2.6 g/cubic cm
Texture: Soft, slippery
Color: White to off-white

Wet Particle Size:
Through 200 mesh: 99.75%
Through 325 mesh: 99.0%

Moisture %, Maximum: 12%
pH (2% slurry): 9.0-11.0
LOI: 18.65

Specific to GM:
Free Swell: Minimum 24 mls
Viscosity: 2000 - 5000 @ 5% solids
pH: 8.0-10.0 @ 2% solids

CAS No. 1302-78-9

Related Information

Links

Materials	Hectalite 200
Materials	Hectorite A sodium magnesium montmorillonite that burns much whiter than bentonite (because of lower iron content).
Materials	Veegum A clay of incredibly small particle size. It has the highest plasticity of any known clay and acts as a suspending and gelling agent in slurries.
URLs	https://www.mineralstech.com/docs/default-source/performance-materials-documents/advanced-performance-additives/applications/hectalite-gm-tech-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=701065c4_2 Hectalite GM data sheet from American Colloids
Typecodes	Clay Other Clays that are not kaolins, ball clays or bentonites. For example, stoneware clays are mixtures of all of the above plus quartz, feldspar, mica and other minerals. There are also many clays that have high plasticity like bentonite but are much different mineralogically.

By Tony Hansen
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