Omya GmbH

Omya offers an extensive range of standard and specialty grades of Calcium Carbonate with different particle sizes and optical values for various coatings applications:

• Decorative Paints
• Plasters & Renders
• Industrial & Powder Coatings
• Printing Inks

Calcium Carbonate is considered a functional filler due to its ability to enhance coatings performance. The filler selection can significantly influence decorative paints such as opacity, brightness, reflectance, workability and more. Our products contribute to functionality and cost savings in the formulation.

Industrial coatings are primarily used for protection against potentially adverse environmental conditions and representing attractive, valuable surfaces. They are typically formulated below critical pigment volume concentration and lower filler level. However, the selection of filler is still of great importance because of the potential impact on gloss, viscosity and durability. Besides its wide use in primers, Calcium Carbonate has become a suitable component in top coats, where high gloss and good gloss retention as well as low haze are required.

Natural glass has existed since the dawn of time. It is formed when certain types of rocks melt as a result of high-temperature phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, lightning strikes or the impact of meteorites, and then cool and solidify rapidly.

Today we can subdivide the glass market into three segments:

• Flat glass
• Container glass (hollow glass)
• Fiber glass

Calcium carbonate is used in glass as a stabilizer, and modifies the viscosity and increases the durability of the glass. For all types of glass, the common properties required of calcium carbonate are extremely low iron content, consistent chemical characteristics and low moisture content. Dolomite, a magnesium calcium carbonate mineral, can also be used as a stabilizer to improve the resistance of glass to natural or chemical attack in all three types of glass.

The ceramic market can be divided in two major segments – ceramic glass bodies and porous ceramic tiles.

Besides silica sand, calcium carbonate is another main component in the production of ceramics. Calcium carbonate is an economical source of calcium oxide, which is needed as a melting agent at high temperatures (1,050 °C), improves the mechanical and chemical strength of the glass body and reduces shrinkage from firing.