2011 Registration Document - Imerys

1 Performance
PRESENTATION OF THE GROUP
& Filtration Minerals
1.5.2 PERFORMANCE MINERALS
Thanks to a broad portfolio of raw materials providing a
comprehensive range of properties, Performance Minerals addresses
niche markets in which additional performance is key. In-depth
formulating know-how and Research & Development capabilities
allow for the development of new mineral solutions bringing value
to customers and a reduced environmental footprint of their own
products. For more information on R&D and innovation, please see
Chapter 1, section 1.8 of the Registration Document.
Over the past years, the Performance Minerals business developed
its range of high-quality minerals and expanded its geographic
presence around the world.
❚ PRODUCTS
Minerals have differentiated chemical composition, particle size
distribution, particle shape and impart exceptional properties
in the end use such as outstanding whiteness, high mechanical
strength and excellent rheology. Based on in-depth knowledge of
the industrial minerals’ properties, production processes are adapted
to the requirements of specific applications in order to satisfy the
ever-changing needs of the customers.
The Performance Minerals activity makes its products from kaolin,
ground calcium carbonate (GCC), precipitated calcium carbonate
(PCC), mica and talc. For a detailed presentation of these minerals
and products, please see Chapter 1, section 1.3 of the Registration
Document.
❚ APPLICATIONS
Performance Minerals are processed and marketed worldwide. They
are used as functional additives added to intermediary or finished
products to deliver higher functionality and processability, and to
reduce total raw material costs.
Applications include:
p paints & coatings: an extensive range of kaolins, calcium
carbonates, mica and talc, are used as extenders to improve
paint and film quality, opacity, matting, anti-cracking and anticorrosive
properties;
p plastics, films and polymer packaging: the development of
more and more sophisticated applications means that increasingly
demanding requirements are placed on functional fillers and the
specific properties they impart. Imerys has an excellent range of
high-quality mineral extenders at its disposal including calcium
carbonates, kaolins and micas; talc improves stiffness, impact
resistance and dimensional stability of thermoplastic automotive
parts and plastics for consumer goods (household appliances
28 2011 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT IMERYS
etc.). Talc reinforced polymers are increasingly used in automotive
parts to help reduce the weight of the vehicles;
p rubber: kaolins, calcium carbonates and talc are used in many
rubber applications. Imerys’ range of white minerals delivers
good processability, permeability, chemical resistance and barrier
properties, in addition to good whiteness and rubber mechanical
properties. I n particular, talc is used in seals, hoses, membranes,
cables, tires and other mechanical rubber goods to improve
processing, permeability, electrical properties, fire resistance and
mechanical properties such as tear resistance for automotive
parts, tires, pharmaceutical closures, industrial goods etc.;
p sealants & adhesives: kaolins impart good barrier effects and
rheology control to adhesives and sealants. The low surface
hydroxyl content of kaolins leads to low moisture pick-up,
resulting in excellent performance in moisture-sensitive sealant
applications. Kaolins are effective as structure-building elements.
Finely ground calcium carbonates are also used in a wide range
of sealants and adhesive applications to improve rheological
properties and reduce the water or volatile content of the
compound. Some products are made hydrophobic with stearate
coating to reduce moisture pick-up, make handling easier and
improve dispersion;
p health & beauty: talc is used to bring softness to body powders,
silkiness to make-up and to enhance softness and lather of soaps
and to reduce formulation costs. Thanks to its inertness, talc is
an excellent pharmaceutical excipient and carrier for medicated
powders. Talc also acts as glidants and lubricants for tableting and
many other pharmaceuticals applications. Calcium carbonates
are used in a large range of personal care products, such as
toothpaste and soap;
p paper & packaging: talc is used as filler and as a process enabler
for adsorption of organic impurities (pitch control) of papers in
order to bring quality and whiteness, notably for recycled paper.
It can substitute water chemicals as an alternative environmentally
friendly solution in paper processing operations;
p ceramics: talc is used in cordierite honeycomb bodies, which is a
key piece of ceramic technology that is now standard equipment
in the exhaust systems of cars, trucks, buses, as well as off-road
mobile mining, farming and construction equipment worldwide;
p other niche applications: a wide range of minerals that enhance
the properties of products are used every day in construction,
landscaping, drilling muds and personal care products. These
include: white marble aggregates used in coatings for swimming
pools and limestone products for lawn care. C alcium carbonates
are used in water treatment systems, air purification and the
energy sector.