Comparison of the physicochemical properties and mineralogy of Chinese (Beihai) and Brazilian kaolin

Beihai area (China) has about 500 million tons kaolin reserves with potential applications in ceramics, paint, plastic and rubber-filler industries, but unlike the Brazilian kaolin, it is not good in paper-coating industry. In order to understand the differences between Chinese (Beihai) and Brazilian kaolin, their individual physicochemical properties, morphologies, crystal structures, and surface characteristics were systematically investigated and compared. The results showed that the viscosity concentration, specific surface area and zeta potential of Brazilian kaolin were higher than those of Beihai kaolin. SEM and TEM images revealed that Brazilian kaolin had more regular particle shape, smoother surface and larger diameter–thickness ratio than those of Beihai kaolin. Moreover, XRD and TG/DSC analyses exhibited that Beihai kaolin was low ordered kaolinite with lower value of Hinckley index, average flake thickness along c-axis and endothermic peak temperature as compared to Brazilian kaolin. Furthermore, the crystal structures refined by the Rietveld method of Beihai kaolin showed a greater distortion of [SiO4] tetrahedron than that of Brazilian kaolin. It can be concluded that low viscosity concentration, low degree of order, and irregular particle shape of Chinese (Beihai) kaolin are the reasons why it is not suitable for use in the paper-coating industry.