Diatomaceous earth: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Vitamins infobox | |||
|image = | |||
|designer = | |||
|date = | |||
|vitamins = | |||
|materials = | |||
|transformations = | |||
|lifecycles = | |||
|tools = | |||
|parts = | |||
|techniques = | |||
|stl = | |||
|git = | |||
}} | |||
=Introduction= | =Introduction= |
Revision as of 11:36, 10 August 2021
Introduction
Diatomaceous earth, diatomite or kieselgur/kieselguhr is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that has been crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. It has a particle size ranging from less than 3 μm to more than 1 mm, but typically 10 to 200 μm. Depending on the granularity, this powder can have an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and has a low density as a result of its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of oven-dried diatomaceous earth is 80–90% silica, with 2–4% alumina (attributed mostly to clay minerals), and 0.5–2% iron oxide.
Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled protist. It is used as a filtration aid, mild abrasive in products including metal polishes and toothpaste, mechanical insecticide, absorbent for liquids, matting agent for coatings, reinforcing filler in plastics and rubber, anti-block in plastic films, porous support for chemical catalysts, cat litter, activator in blood clotting studies, a stabilizing component of dynamite, a thermal insulator, and a soil for potted plants and trees like bonsai.