Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the formula CaCO3. It is a common substance found in rocks in all parts of the world, and is the main component of shells of marine organisms, snails, coal balls, pearls, and eggshells. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in agricultural lime, and is usually the principal cause of hard water. It is commonly used medicinally as a calcium supplement or as an antacid, but excessive consumption can be hazardous. Both wet and dry grinding methods are commonly used in processing the limestone for industrial uses. Paper, plastic, paint, rubber and caulk producers use calcium carbonate as a way to improve quality and lower manufacturing costs. Plate glass, bottle and fiberglass producers use larger quantities of calcium carbonate as a source for calcium, an essential ingredient in their manufacturing processes. Calcium carbonate also helps to make many industrial plants more environmentally friendly through its use in waste treatment and flue gas scrubbing systems.
Industrial Applications
1) The main use of GCC is in the construction industry, either as a building material or limestone aggregate for road building or an ingredient of cement.
2) Used in the purification of iron from iron ore in a blast furnace.
3) In oil industry, GCC is added to drilling fluids as a formation - bridging and filler cake - sealing agent.
4) In ceramic and glazing applications GCC is known as whiting and is a common ingredient for many glazes in its white powdered form.
5) Also a part made from calcium carbonate and deionized water can be used to clean tarnish on silver.
6) Calcium carbonate is widely used as an extender in paints, in particular matte emulsion paint where typically 30% by weight of the paint is either chalk or marble. It is also a popular filler in plastics.
7) GCC is used as a filler in paper because they are cheaper than wood fiber. Printing and writing paper can contain 10–20% calcium carbonate.
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