Types and applications of gypsum

The formation of gypsum is very wonderful, mainly formed by the evaporation process of seawater or salt lakes. Gypsum is a widely distributed mineral, also called raw gypsum, and its main chemical component is calcium sulfate. It is usually white, but if there are more impurities, it may also appear brown, yellow and other colors. The hardness of gypsum is low and it is easy to dissolve in water, but it is still very stable in a humid environment. If gypsum is heated to more than 100 degrees, it will be converted into hemihydrated calcium sulfate, which is a reversible process. In addition, gypsum also has the characteristics of sound insulation, heat insulation, and fire resistance. Therefore, gypsum is widely used in building materials, soil conditioners, models, food, medicine and other fields.

Types of gypsum

Gypsum is mainly divided into the following categories:

Building gypsum

Ordinary gypsum is made of gypsum stone raw material, also known as cooked gypsum. Gypsum has high strength and hardness. It is calcined, crushed, ground, and extruded into various shapes. It has the characteristics of non-toxicity, tastelessness, and good water resistance. It is widely used in building decoration, ceilings, sculptures, walls, molds, etc.

Industrial gypsum

After the plaster of Paris hardens without water, it forms industrial gypsum. It is a general term for products produced by industry mainly based on calcium sulfate, also known as artificial synthetic gypsum or chemical gypsum. It can be made into ceramic materials, composite materials, glass fiber and other materials, mainly used in construction, billboards, glass, shipbuilding and other industries.

Medical gypsum

Gypsum treated with special processes is medical gypsum. Because of its good air permeability, processability, stability and other characteristics, it is mainly used as an orthopedic medical tool for patients to correct, fix and support body parts.

High-strength gypsum

Reinforced gypsum is a kind of high-strength gypsum. Glass fiber and other materials are added to ordinary gypsum to improve its toughness and strength. It is generally used to make ceilings, partitions and other decorations. High-strength gypsum has compressive resistance and durability, which is more advantageous than ordinary gypsum.

Cement gypsum

Adding a certain amount of cement, fine sand and other materials to ordinary gypsum forms cement gypsum. Because of its anti-freeze and anti-cracking properties, it is often used to make walls and floors.

Magnesium phosphate gypsum

Gypsum produced by adding an appropriate amount of phosphoric acid and magnesium salts to ordinary gypsum is magnesium phosphate gypsum. Because of its heat resistance and fire resistance, it is often used in places with a high fire coefficient, such as kitchens, gas stations, etc.

Anhydrous gypsum

Anhydrous gypsum is made by calcining dihydrate gypsum and hemihydrate gypsum at a high temperature of more than 360 degrees, also known as insoluble gypsum. Because its hydration and hardening are very slow, when preparing new building materials, it must be activated and stimulated to have a high hydration rate before it can be finally used. Mainly used as paint white pigment, polishing powder, gas desiccant, etc.

In general, from the above we know that gypsum is widely used, but there are also many types of gypsum. Because of its high hardness, strong fire resistance, odorless and non-toxic properties, it plays an important role in people's lives.