What is Calcium Carbonate?
Calcium Carbonate is mineral composed of three elements: carbon, oxygen and calcium. Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) is a non-toxic and odourless powder.
Ground Calcium Carbonate Markets
The ground Calcium Carbonate market is expected to continue to grow over the next few years. Keegan’s Calcium Carbonate can produce any grading of GCC from less than 100 micron and upwards from 100 micron.
The principal function of ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) is as a source of calcium and a filler in a diverse range of end use applications. The paper industry is the largest consumer of GCC, plastics account for around 10% of European GCC consumption, around 8% of Europe’s GCC is accounted for by the paint market and the adhesives and sealants industry consumes around 5% of European GCC production.
Ground Calcium Carbonate is used in the following sectors:
- Adhesives and Sealants – Calcium Carbonate is used caulks and sealants applications as a cost-reducing filler, tensile strength enhancer, toughening agent, and whitening agent
- Carpet-backing – our Calcium Carbonate grades adds weight to the backing, assisting the carpet in laying flat once installed
- Construction Calcium Carbonate is used as a filler in the manufacturing of asphalt and concrete
- Food and Pharmaceuticals – finer grades of Calcium Carbonates are used in the pharmaceuticals industry as a whitening agent and a filler in tablets
- Paints and Surface – Calcium Carbonate is commonly used in a number of paint and coating applications. It is used as an extender, an agent to either reduce or enhance gloss or as an anti-slip additive
- Rubber and Elastomers – Ground Calcium Carbonate is used in a wide variety of rubber applications as both an extender and de-tacktifying agent. In other Calcium Carbonate rubber applications, it can add stiffness or provide abrasion resistance
- Animal and Pet Feeds -Many pet foods utilize vitamin / mineral pre-mixes in their formulations in order to deliver vital micronutrients to our pets. These vitamin / mineral pre-mixes often contain significant amounts of Calcium Carbonate. Pure and natural Calcium Carbonate has been a trusted source of calcium for nutrition for many years and now offers the very same quality and reliability to the animal nutrition sector.
Fine Crushed Limestone Markets
In Ireland the animal feed and animal nutrition sector along with the glass manufacturing industry are the biggest users of Fine Crushed limestone, other markets for different grades of fine crushed limestone are.
- Fertilisers and agricultural liming
- Environment (desulphurisation of flue gas)
- Ceramics
- Floor Screeds
Agricultural Lime
Agricultural Lime is a tried and tested way for regulating the pH level in soil. More than 60% of land in Ireland needs pH regulation.
Agricultural Lime (Ag Lime) responds to a particular challenge faced by farmers. As you grow crops over the years, in most cases your soil will become more acidic. This is due to erosion, leaching, the decomposition of organic matter, and a variety of other factors. Soil that becomes too acidic can have an extremely detrimental effect on crop yields and, thus, on your bottom line.
Luckily the solution to the gradual increase in soil acidity is rather simple.
Ag Lime is proven to be a simple and cost-effective way to counter the harsh conditions created by rising acidity. Applications of Ag Lime are a reliable way to keep your soil healthy and high-yielding.
Ag Lime’s chemical properties allow crops to flourish in less-than-ideal acidity conditions. It can boost the profit potential of a farm significantly, while also making fertilizer up to 50 percent more efficient.
- Improving the intake of nutrients by crops growing in the soil
- Making fertilisers more effective
- Supplying key minerals to crops, including calcium and magnesium
- Placing the physical, biological, and chemical properties of soil in better balance
- Taking toxicities out of the soil
- Helping with nitrogen intake to crops
Liming may be carried out at any time when ground conditions are suitable. For arable land, lime is usually applied when the land is available after harvest.
The answer to the question ‘How often should I Lime?’ is, in general, ‘as often as necessary to maintain a pH as near enough 7.0 on arable, and 6.5 on grassland.
