Different Grades Of Perlite And Their Uses

Perlite is used in a wide array of industries and applications today. As perlite manufacturers we want to inform and educate potential and current customers about the ways in which they can use this natural, sustainable material to get the most out of their PVP perlite. If you don’t see the answer to your questions, check out our FAQ page and always feel free to contact us directly!

What Is Perlite?

PVP perlite is a naturally occurring material, made from mined volcanic glass and expanded using high heat. This process vaporizes trapped moisture, creating tiny bubbles and causing the raw perlite to expand to up to 20 times its original volume. It is similar to popping corn kernels. Perlite is a sterile, pH neutral, non-flammable, odorless and nontoxic material that will not decay or disintegrate and is untouched by insects and fungi. Because it is inert in nature, it can safely be used in countless applications across industries. For more granular information, check out our Safety Data Sheet for expanded perlite.

Grades & Sizes of Perlite

At the initial harvest, raw perlite is crushed and screened, then separated into a range of sizes. During the heating process, perlite can further break apart into various particle sizes and perlite manufacturers can use factors like initial particle size, heat intensity, preheat level, air flow, and furnace time in order to create different sizes, densities or grades of perlite. PVP perlite is available in the following sizes, with customizable blends available upon request: 

• Super Coarse

• Coarse

• Medium

• Fine

• Super Fine 

• Insulation Grade

• Concrete Aggregate

• Industrial Straight Coarse    

• Industrial Medium

• Industrial Medium for Insulation

• Industrial Fine

• Industrial Super Fine

The sizes of PVP perlite can range from particles roughly the width of a marble or the eye of a needle to the thickness of a credit card, size of a grain of salt, or as small as the width of a human hair. Choosing the correct grade for your desired application is vital to ensure that it matches your use case. Custom perlite manufacturing is available by size and density upon request–reach out to us today to learn more and find the solution to your manufacturing needs.

Perlite Applications and Uses

PVP perlite applications are many and varied, and span industries, from horticulture and agriculture to food and chemical production, construction, and oil and gas. Because PVP perlite is lightweight and able to balance air and water while also managing to be inert, sterile, safe and permanent, it can fill many important roles. Here are some of the most common applications for PVP perlite:

Horticultural

• a sterile environment with superior water retention creates an ideal growing environment for both seedlings and cuttings and other forms of plant propagation

• high water holding capacity paired with optimal aeration, natural sterility and the ability to be used more than once are perfect for hydroponic growing

• turf management for athletic fields and golf courses is made easier due to looser, less compacted soil with improved drainage

• high water holding capacity and simultaneous ability to drain excess moisture along with perlite’s permanence and resistance to degradation makes it ideal for landscaping uses

• green buildings and rooftop gardens depend on perlite as a lightweight soil alternative

• greenhouse growing for plants and edible crops relies on perlite’s sterile, odorless, lightweight and water retentive properties, typically when mixed with other soilless growing media

• ideal sterile material for storing and insulating flower bulbs, roots and tubers by plant sellers

Industrial

• mild abrasives used for polishing and grinding

• granular absorbents for use in the automotive, janitorial, food and chemical packaging, health and safety sectors as well as cleaning up hazardous materials

• anti-caking ingredient in animal feed and odor and moisture control in animal bedding

• carrier for pesticides, feed concentrates, and herbicides

• aid in chemical filters for brines, adhesives, acids, polymers and more

• fireproofing boards, panels and sprayed plasters

• cryogenic insulation for gas and liquid solutions

• shrink and crack resistant, nontoxic, fireproof and insulating fillers

• package cushioning material for chemical, glass and other fragile items

• high temperature, pipe, and acoustic insulation

• pool water treatment and filtration

• beverage filtration prior to bottling

• filler in various rubbers, resins, plastics, paints, coatings, polishes, soaps and cleansers

• removing pollutants from industrial air streams and storm water runoff

Construction

• faux rock in smooth to coarse textures

• fireproof and rotproof ceiling tiles

• lightweight, permanent and heat resistant chimney linings

• aggregate in concrete for a range of lightweight and fire resistant products

• permanent, low density and rot proof insulated floor options

• natural and sustainable loose-fill masonry insulation and noise reduction

• insulative pipe coating

• lightweight, permanent, insulating and fireproof plaster in various textures and finishes

Beyond these common uses, perlite can also have a range of uses in the archeological, conservation, ecological and art arenas. The potential uses are truly endless. Anytime that a safe, natural, lightweight, inert, odorless, fire and rot proof material is needed, pelite may be the solution. 

As perlite manufacturers, PVP Industries is always working to find more products and processes that would benefit from the unmatched versatility of perlite. To learn more, or to discuss whether perlite could be the solution to your production needs, get in touch with us–we’re happy to find new ways to grow.