Vermiculite vs. Ceramic
Vermiculite and ceramic are materials that you will find mentioned in hardware stores or during building projects. The two materials are both solids and share clay as a primary ingredient. However, they differ greatly in terms of how they are structured and how they are used. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Vermiculite Basics
-
Vermiculite is a grainy mineral that often resembles a jumble of pebbles when purchased at hardware stores. It is formed naturally by the gradual alteration of biotite, and thus it is considered a mineral, unlike ceramic. Vermiculite expands when heated, a process known as exfoliation. It's composition is about 66 percent clay, although this may vary depending on the regional source or how much it has been heated during processing.
Ceramic Basics
-
Ceramic is a glassy, solid material that is formed through rapid heating and subsequent cooling of clay. Ceramic materials are known for being very durable. Though ceramic is brittle, objects made from it are capable of withstanding moderate to high amounts of chemical erosion, as well as extreme temperatures reaching over 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit in ceramics containing carbides and nitrides. It is crystalline and often glassy, although it may also be made into an insulating fiber.
-
Vermiculite Uses
-
The primary use of vermiculite is as an insulating material. It can be packed into tight areas and then expanded with heat, trapping it. Vermiculite is also often used as a packing material or as a type of soil for plants. One unique use of vermiculite is that it is often the substrate for the incubation of reptile eggs. Breeders will use a mixture of half vermiculite and half water to create a safe bedding that will trap heat as well as cushion the eggs.
Ceramic Uses
-
The primary use for ceramic is in pottery, which may be decorative, or it may be practical, as with whiteware ceramics, which consist of plates, bowls and eating utensils constructed from ceramic material. It is used in dentistry to fill in bridges between teeth, as a fire-resistant tile in homes, in medical prostheses, as an insulator, or as any other type of strong building material for mechanical components. Ceramic is used primarily in applications where a strong resistance to heat and weathering is needed.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
