Kaolin, also known as Chinese clay, is a versatile mineral used in papermaking, ceramics, skin care products, and pharmaceuticals. It has ancient uses as a remedy for gastrointestinal ailments and skin care. Its sources can be found worldwide.
Kaolin is a soft white mineral that has a wide variety of uses. It is most commonly found in the form of a fine clay originally produced in China, which is why this material is sometimes called “Chinese clay”. Among the many uses of this mineral are the paper industry, pharmaceuticals, skin care products, porcelain and cosmetics. Its sources can be found all over the world, including the United States, China, Brazil, Australia and parts of Eastern Europe.
The name comes from the Chinese “Gaoling”, a reference to a mountain that provided an early source of the ore. The Chinese used it to produce their famous fine porcelain, and when European explorers were introduced to Chinese pottery, many of them remarked on the delicate quality of the work. This was made possible by kaolin, a material Europeans were unfamiliar with, and European potters spent centuries trying to replicate the techniques used to produce it.
Today the secret of Chinese ceramics is out and manufacturing companies from all over the world are using kaolin in their ceramics. In high concentrations, the mineral produces fine white pieces with a high level of tensile strength and can be used to produce different styles of pottery. The clay made with it can also be combined with other clays to create specific blends.
The mineral also has an ancient use as a skin care product. Like other clays, it is very absorbent and can remove oils and dirt from the skin. It is commonly used in face masks or as an additive to baths to soothe the skin and is also included in a number of cosmetics. Powdered forms can be sprinkled on the face to absorb oil and reduce oiliness, while mineralized creams can be used to soothe dry skin or to reduce oiliness, depending on how they are formulated. Companies that sell natural skin care products often sell pure kaolin, which people can use to make their own cosmetics and skin care products.
Another historical use of this mineral is as a remedy for gastrointestinal ailments. People once ate it because the clay coated the stomach to soothe irritation and absorbed disease-causing bacteria and viruses, as well as absorbing melted water, which made the stools firmer. Some cultures still eat clays for stomach pain, and the mineral has also been integrated into many stomach-healing products, such as liquid suspensions that people take to treat diarrhea.
One of the most popular uses of kaolin today is in papermaking. The mineral is used to coat and fill paper, and the paper industry requires huge volumes of it every year. Varying levels of the mineral can be used to change the texture and appearance of paper products.
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