Editing Kaolinite (section)

==Applications==
===Main===
In 2009, up to 70% of kaolin was used in the production of [[paper]]. Following reduced demand from the paper industry, resulting from both competing minerals and the effect of digital media, in 2016 the market share was reported to be: paper, 36%; ceramics, 31%; paint, 7% and other, 26%.<ref name="Ceramics' F. Hart 2019. Pg.28">'Positive Outlook For Kaolin In Ceramics' F. Hart, I. Wilson. Industrial Minerals, April 2019. Pg.28</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=King |first1=R.J. |title=Kaolinite |journal=Geology Today |date=March 2009 |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=75–78 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2451.2009.00711.x|bibcode=2009GeolT..25...75K |s2cid=242917623 }}</ref> According to the [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]], in 2021 the global production of kaolin was estimated to be around 45 million tonnes.<ref>U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2022</ref>

* '''Paper''' applications require high-brightness, low abrasion and delaminated kaolins. For paper coatings it is used to enhance the gloss, brilliance, smoothness and receptability to inks; it can account for 25% of mass of the paper. As a paper filler it is used as a pulp extender, and to increase opacity; it can account for 15% of mass.<ref>’Industrial Minerals And Their Uses - A Handbook And Formulary. P. A. Ciullo. William Andrew, 1996. Pg. 43</ref><ref name="Markets And Industry Outlook 2013. Pg. 332">'Kaolin - Global Markets And Industry Outlook' 13th edition. Roskill Information Services, 2013. Pg. 332</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|vauthors=Murray HH, Lyons SC|date=1955|title=Correlation of Paper-Coating Quality with Degree of Crystal Perfection of Kaolinite|journal=Clays and Clay Minerals|volume=4|issue=1|pages=31–40|doi=10.1346/CCMN.1955.0040105|bibcode=1955CCM.....4...31M|doi-access=free}}</ref>
* In whiteware '''ceramic''' bodies, kaolin can constitute up to 50% of the raw materials. In unfired bodies it contributes to the green strength, plasticity and rheological properties, such as the casting rate. During firing it reacts with other body components to form the crystal and glass phases. With suitable firing schedules it is key to the formation of [[mullite]]. The most valued grades have low contents of chromophoric oxides such that the fired material has high whiteness.<ref>’Industrial Minerals And Their Uses - A Handbook And Formular’ P. A. Ciullo. William Andrew, 1996. Pg. 43</ref><ref name="Markets And Industry Outlook 2013. Pg. 332"/><ref>’Dictionary Of Ceramic Science And Engineering' L. S. O’Bannon. Plenum Press / Springer. 1984. Pg.146</ref><ref>’Dictionary Of Ceramic Science And Engineering’ 3rd edition. I. MCcolm. Springer, 2013</ref> In glazes it is primarily used as a rheology control agent, but also contributes some green strength. In both glazes and frits it contributes some SiO<sub>2</sub> as a glass network former, and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> as both a network former and modifier.<ref>'Ceramics Glaze Technology.' J.R.Taylor & A.C.Bull. The Institute Of Ceramics/Pergamon Press986</ref>

===Other industrial===
* As a raw material for the production of an insulation material called Kaowool (a form of [[Mineral wool#Kaowool|mineral wool]]).
* An additive to some [[paint]]s to extend the [[titanium dioxide]] ({{Chem2|TiO2}}) white pigment and modify gloss levels.
* An additive to modify the properties of [[rubber]] upon [[vulcanization]].
* An additive to adhesives to modify [[rheology]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQPozu9fWrIC&pg=PA43|title=Industrial Minerals and Their Uses: A Handbook and Formulary|last=Ciullo|first=Peter A.|publisher=Noyes Publications|year=1996|isbn=9780815518082|location=Westwood, NJ|pages=41–43|name-list-style=vanc}}</ref>
* As adsorbents in water and wastewater treatment.<ref>{{cite journal|display-authors=3|vauthors=Leiviskä T, Gehör S, Eijärvi E, Sarpola A, Tanskanen J|date=2012|title=Characteristics and potential applications of coarse clay fractions from Puolanka, Finland|journal=[[Open Engineering|Open Eng.]]|volume=2|issue=2|pages=239–247|bibcode=2012CEJE....2..239L|doi=10.2478/s13531-011-0067-9|doi-access=free}}</ref>
* In its altered [[metakaolin]] form, as a [[pozzolan]]; when added to a concrete mix, metakaolin accelerates the hydration of [[Portland cement]] and takes part in the [[pozzolanic reaction]] with the [[portlandite]] formed in the hydration of the main cement minerals (e.g. [[alite]]).
* [[Metakaolin]] is also a base component for [[geopolymer]] compounds.

===Medical===
* To soothe an upset [[stomach]], similar to the way [[parrot]]s (and later, humans) in [[South America]] originally used it<ref>{{Cite journal|vauthors=Diamond JM|date=1999|title=Dirty eating for healthy living|journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]|series=Evolutionary biology|volume=400|issue=6740|pages=120–121|bibcode=1999Natur.400..120D|doi=10.1038/22014|pmid=10408435|doi-access=free}}</ref> (more recently, industrially produced).
* Kaolin-based preparations are used for treatment of [[diarrhea]].
* An ingredient in 'pre-work' skin protection and [[barrier cream]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.debgroup.com/sites/default/files/uploads/product-sheets/en-us/stokoderm_protect_pure_pi.pdf|title=Stokoderm Protect PURE|date=2017|website=debgroup.com|publisher=Deb USA, Inc.|type=product leaflet|access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref>
* To induce and accelerate blood clotting. In April 2008 the US [[Naval Medical Research Institute]] announced the successful use of a kaolinite-derived [[aluminosilicate]] infusion in traditional [[gauze]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2008/04/blood_clotting|title=Nanoparticles Help Gauze Stop Gushing Wounds|last=Rowe A|date=24 April 2008|magazine=Wired|access-date=5 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706091649/http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2008/04/blood_clotting|archive-date=6 July 2009|url-status=live|publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref> which is still the hemostat of choice for all branches of the US military. See [[Kaolin clotting time]] and [[QuikClot]].
* As a mild abrasive in [[toothpaste]].

===Cosmetics===
* As a filler in [[cosmetics]].
* For facial masks or soap.
* for spa body treatments, such as body wraps, cocoons, or spot treatments.

===Archaeology===
* As an indicator in [[radiological dating]] since kaolinite can contain very small traces of [[uranium]] and [[thorium]].

===Geophagy===
* Humans sometimes eat kaolin for pleasure or to suppress hunger,<ref name="Balengou">{{Cite news|url=http://www.quotidienlejour.com/double-page-/reportage/504-balengou-autour-des-mines|title=Balengou: autour des mines|last=Kamtche F|date=2012|work=Le Jour|access-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304025224/http://www.quotidienlejour.com/double-page-/reportage/504-balengou-autour-des-mines|archive-date=4 March 2012|url-status=dead|language=fr|trans-title=Balengou: around the mines}}</ref> a practice known as [[geophagy]].  In Africa, kaolin used for such purposes is known as ''kalaba'' (in [[Gabon]]<ref>Karine Boucher, Suzanne Lafage. [http://www.unice.fr/ILF-CNRS/ofcaf/14/K14.html "Le lexique français du Gabon: K."] ''Le Français en Afrique: Revue du Réseau des Observatoires du Français Contemporain en Afrique''. 2000.</ref> and [[Cameroon]]<ref name="Balengou"/>), ''calaba'', and ''calabachop'' (in [[Equatorial Guinea]]).  Consumption is greater among women, especially during pregnancy,<ref>Gerald N. Callahan. [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol9no8/03-0033.htm "Eating Dirt."] ''[[Emerging Infectious Diseases]]''. 9.8 (August 2003).</ref> and its use is sometimes said by women of the region to be a habit analogous to cigarette smoking among men. The practice has also been observed within a small population of African-American women in the [[Southern United States]], especially [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], likely brought with the traditions of the aforementioned Africans via [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]].<ref name="Clay Eating">{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Clay Eating|date=3 February 2004|encyclopedia=[[New Georgia Encyclopedia]]|last=Grigsby RK|series=Science & Medicine|type=online|url=https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/science-medicine/clay-eating|access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/04/02/297881388/the-old-and-mysterious-practice-of-eating-dirt-revealed?t=1553254886529|title=The Old And Mysterious Practice of Eating Dirt, Revealed|last=Chen L|date=2 April 2014|work=The Salt|publisher=NPR}}</ref> There, the kaolin is called ''white dirt'', ''chalk'' or ''white clay''.<ref name="Clay Eating"/>

===Geotechnical engineering===
* Research results show that the utilization of kaolinite in [[geotechnical engineering]] can be alternatively replaced by safer illite, especially if its presence is less than 10.8% of the total rock mass.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Supandi |first1=Supandi |last2=Zakaria |first2=Zufialdi |last3=Sukiyah |first3=Emi |last4=Sudradjat |first4=Adjat |title=The Influence of Kaolinite - Illite toward mechanical properties of Claystone |journal=Open Geosciences |date=2019-08-29 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=440–446 |doi=10.1515/geo-2019-0035|bibcode=2019OGeo...11...35S |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Small-scale uses===
* As a light-diffusing material in white [[incandescent light bulb]]s.
* In [[organic farming]] as a [[kaolin spray|spray]] applied to crops to deter [[Codling moth|insect]] damage, and in the case of apples, to prevent sun scald.
* As [[whitewash]] in traditional stone masonry homes in Nepal.
* As a filler in [[Edison Disc Record|Edison Diamond Discs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gracyk.com/diamonddisc.shtml|title=Edison Diamond Discs: 1912 - 1929|last=Gracyk T|date=2006|website=Tim Gracyk's Phonographs, Singers, & Old Records|access-date=22 March 2019}}</ref>