Unique Applications of Vermiculite

PVP vermiculite is a versatile product that can be utilized for a wide range of use cases that run the gamut, from common to unique. Vermiculite is distinct from perlite in both its composition and formation processes, though they are often used together and for some similar applications. Both PVP perlite and PVP vermiculite share a list of some of the most common ways that vermiculite and perlite distributors may market them, in a range of horticultural, industrial and construction applications. These vital materials will continue to have value, even in the most challenging markets, as they can so easily adapt and shift, depending on the specific need.

Vermiculite has unique properties–it is lightweight, porous, fireproof, absorbent, inert, non-toxic, and has a neutral pH, among other features. These factors make it ideal for uses that extend far beyond common gardening and industrial applications. Here we will discuss vermiculite’s unusual uses to both educate and assist our clients to make the most of PVP vermiculite and to share ways in which they may be able to diversify their own offerings.

Unique Ways to Use PVP Vermiculite

As vermiculite manufacturers, PVP Industries is always on the lookout for new, unusual, and innovative uses of this product. The innate versatility of vermiculite is just one reason why we love to offer it in various grades and for countless uses. Here are some of the more unique and unusual applications that extend far beyond traditional and more common horticultural, industrial, and construction use cases.

Unique applications for PVP vermiculite include:

• Archeological Digs: PVP perlite and PVP vermiculite are combined in geotextile bags which can then be placed against the fragile exposed walls of a dig site. They provide protection and aid in preservation. Vermiculite can also be used for delicate artifact handling, packaging, and transport.

• BBQ Fire Base: PVP vermiculite can be used as a base beneath charcoal briquettes to allow for greater airflow. It’s also insulative and prevents heat warping in the metal, aids in a more even burn, and also requires less charcoal overall, thereby creating a more efficient heat source. Vermiculite is a safe, non-combustible material that's ideal for creating a bed for hot coals.

• Glass Enameling: Vermiculite acts as an insulator, helping to slow down the rate of cooling and prevent glass cracking and shattering. It then allows for batch annealing of small pieces and simple items collectively, in a kiln, saving energy and time. Vermiculite provides an ideal environment for slow, gradual cooling that prevents thermal shock and stress.

• Reptile Egg Incubation and Artificial Turtle Nests: PVP vermiculite can be used as a substrate to create artificial nests for turtle eggs. Its properties provide the moisture, air circulation, insulation, and sterile conditions necessary for ideal egg development. Vermiculite can be used to incubate the eggs of snakes, geckos, tortoises, and many other reptiles both as part of conservation programs and by hobbyists.

• Water Conservation: PVP vermiculite can be used to retain water and save topsoil. Its spongy, layered structure is capable of absorbing and holding large amounts of water and then slowly releasing it to plant roots. This is an ideal use for vermiculite in dry climates and as part of container plantings, and can enhance moisture retention in sandy soils as well as improving water distribution in heavy soils.

• Filtering Effluent (sewage): PVP vermiculite can be used for effectively filtering and treating effluent. Thanks to its high absorption capacity and ion-exchange properties vermiculite can act like a filter media, removing nutrients like phosphates, heavy metals, organic pollutants, and oils. Vermiculite is especially useful in this context in off-grid or low-energy systems.

• Earthbag Roundhouses: PVP vermiculite can be used, along with perlite, to fill bags to build a roundhouse to provide superior insulation and boost thermal performance. It is a safe, non-toxic, fire-resistant, and moisture-resistant option for eco-friendly building. Vermiculite’s lightweight, low-density nature also reduces the overall weight of the walls and makes construction easier.

• Animal Stalls and Corrals: PVP vermiculite’s absorbency, lightweight nature, and ability to improve drainage and aeration make animal bedding easier to manage. It also provides beneficial physical support for large stalled animals, like horses. Vermiculite makes it very easy to scoop, empty, and spread material and can also be used as a carrier substrate to deliver pesticides, helping to combat common pest issues like flies, while also helping to control odor.

• Animal Feed: Vermiculite is a very effective carrier and binder and is often also used in animal feed, as a carrier for fats, oils, vitamins, and other liquid nutrients. It is an inert material that is generally deemed to be safe for consumption by various animals, and can act as a slow-release agent for key nutrients while also preventing food pelleting and caking.

• Green Roofs: PVP vermiculite’s natural low weight and low density reduces the structural load on buildings for rooftop gardens and green roofs. At the same time, vermiculite can retain necessary nutrients and water and allow for plant growth and development. It provides excellent drainage ability, ensuring that a substrate does not hold too much moisture.

PVP Vermiculite Grades

PVP vermiculite is available in the following four grades:

• Super Coarse (A4)
• Coarse (A3)
• Medium (D3)
• Fine (A2)

Unlike PVP perlite, PVP vermiculite is not as customizable of a product. All grades are used in a wide range of applications, many of which overlap. Because vermiculite sizing is so specific to the geology of the location where it is sourced, certain sizing requests may be easier to source than others. Typically the larger grades are sourced from international mines while domestic mines are more limited in sizing options. That said, as vermiculite manufacturers, we work closely with our suppliers and distributors to ensure that we can acquire and manufacture the products that our customers need. We work hand in hand with The Vermiculite Association to ensure that pure, high quality vermiculite is always available with as little changes as possible.

Your Local Vermiculite Manufacturers

PVP vermiculite is useful across industries and has a virtually unlimited number of potential applications–new uses are being discovered as time goes on. As vermiculite manufacturers, PVP Industries is always working hard to find more ways that our offerings can benefit the products and processes that matter most to our clients. To learn more, or to discuss whether vermiculite could be the solution to your production or business needs, get in touch with us–we’re happy to learn something new.

Please contact us if you have any questions about our vermiculite granules for professionals.