Gypsum Powder Manufacturing Process

Description

Gypsum powder is a versatile material widely used in construction, agriculture, and industrial applications. It is made from gypsum rock, which is a soft mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate. The manufacturing process involves crushing, grinding, calcining, and packaging. Gypsum powder has numerous uses, including as a key ingredient in drywall, plaster, and cement. Its ability to form a smooth, durable surface when mixed with water makes it ideal for construction and decorative applications.

Application

Gypsum powder serves various industries due to its properties:

  • Construction: Gypsum powder is primarily used in the construction industry for producing drywall (plasterboard), plaster, and as an additive in cement for regulating setting time.
  • Agriculture: Gypsum improves soil structure and fertility by adding calcium and sulfur. It is commonly used to correct soil acidity and improve water infiltration.
  • Industrial: In industries like ceramics and paints, gypsum powder is used as a filler and for making molds.
  • Medical: Gypsum is used in the production of surgical casts and dental molds due to its ability to set quickly and form a strong mold.

Gypsum Powder Processing Technology

The gypsum powder manufacturing process involves several stages:

  • Gypsum Extraction: The process begins with the extraction of natural gypsum rock from quarries. Gypsum can also be produced synthetically as a by-product of industrial processes like flue-gas desulfurization in power plants.
  • Crushing and Grinding: The extracted gypsum rock is crushed into smaller pieces and then ground into a fine powder. Grinding mills such as the MTW European Trapezium Mill or SCM Ultrafine Mill are often used to achieve the desired fineness.
  • Calcining: The ground gypsum powder is heated in a calcination process to remove most of the water content, converting it to calcium sulfate hemihydrate (commonly known as plaster of Paris). This calcination process typically occurs in rotary kilns or flash calciners.
  • Cooling and Screening: After calcination, the gypsum powder is cooled to prevent clumping. It is then screened to ensure uniform particle size, which is critical for consistent product quality.
  • Powder Storage and Packaging: The final product is stored in silos and can be packaged in bags or transported in bulk, depending on customer requirements. The finished gypsum powder is ready for use in a wide range of applications.
  • LM Vertical Mill

    Based on the absorption of advanced technologies of famous international corporations and 30 years’ experience in grinding mill production, SBM has launched the LM Vertical Grinding Mill which integrates five functions of crushing, grinding, powder selection, drying and material conveying. It is characterized by centralized technological process, small occupational area, low investment, high efficiency, energy conservation and environment protection.

  • MTW European Trapezium Mill

    MTW European Grinding Mill is innovatively designed through deep research on grinding mills and development experience. It absorbs the latest European powder grinding technology and concept, and combines the suggestions of 9158 customers on grinding mills. This grinding mill perfectly satisfies the production demands of the customers on 200-33μm (80-425Mesh) fine powder.

  • Raymond Mill

    Raymond Mill is a type of grinding mill that is widely used in the industries of metallurgy, building materials, chemical, and mining. It is commonly used for processing non-flammable and non-explosive materials with a Mohs hardness of less than 7 and humidity below 6%, such as limestone, calcite, marble, talc, barite, dolomite, granite, kaolin, and bauxite.

    The machine’s structure includes a host, analyzer, plumbing installation, blower, micro powder cyclone separator, jaw crusher, bucket elevator, electromagnetic vibration feeder, electric motor, and other components. Its working principle involves the grinding rollers revolving around the vertical axis and grinding the materials fed into the mill by a central feeder. The centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rollers pulls the rollers towards the grinding ring, which pulverizes the material.

    Raymond Mill is favored for its efficiency, low energy consumption, stable performance, and easy operation. It is often used to produce fine powders and can be adjusted to meet the specific requirements of the process, making it a versatile and essential piece of equipment in industrial material processing.